Sorry its taken so long to update guys! Really... really.. sorry... well here,. your gonna hate me.. maybe.. I hope not... cus i need you all to read and review.. otherwise... i think my stuffs horrible... lol.. I LUV YOU GUYS!! Oh yeah... a note about this chapter. Anyone who hasnt read The Ties That Bind by Yumigirl06... you should! The character Kiki that you meet in this chapter... is supposed to be the same Kiki as in that one.. and of course.. you get to see my awesomeness in dialogue in hers.
"What are you all talking about?" Odd asked in confusion.
"Sorry… are we interrupting something?"
"… Do you want me to answer that? Honestly? What were you talking about?"
"Actually." Jeremie replied. "That was just a drill. If it were real, we'd probably be in a load of trouble. Considering that you didn't make the slightest attempt to move."
"You're kidding me.. right?"
"No."
Odd looked at his friends in disbelief and annoyance. "Oh… my god… couldn't you all tell that she was—"
"Its alright Odd. I don't mind. Really." Kiks spoke up quietly.
Odd nodded to her understandingly before turning back to look at the rest of the gang. "Can we not do that again please?"
"Yeah, Sorry Odd." Ulrich chuckled. "Did you here that Kiki is going to be in town this week? I heard that she might move back."
"K-Kiki?" Kiks asked, a look of worry crossing her face.
"She's an old friend of ours. She knows about Lyoko too…"
"Oh…"
"Kiks… I was thinking—" Jeremie started. "You've been through a lot of the Xana side lately, maybe you should take a break for a while. With Kiki here, she could fill in for you."
She nodded hesitantly, trying not to let her disappointment show. "Okay. But—what would I do? I'll be so bored…"
"Don't you have a sport or something that you like to play? Maybe you could join a team." Ulrich answered.
"I guess so."
"I think you need to get some rest." Odd said, cutting off the conversation. "We can talk about this in the morning. Currently… we just need to go to bed."
The group said goodnight to Kiks, and left the room, Jeremie explaining he was going to spend the night in the factory working on restoring Kiki's Lyokian form. Odd waited for a moment after they had gone, and turned back to Kiks.
"About… your dad… and your sister—"
"Yeah?"
"… you just have to let it go Kiks. It wasn't your fault. Think about that, okay?"
She nodded her consent as he left. Laying her head back down on the pillow, tears began to fall from her eyes again, slower than before. She began to hum a song to herself, hugging the pillow tightly and mulling the words over in her head.
"I need some sleep, time to put the old horse down, I'm in too deep and the wheels keep spinning round. Everyone says, you're getting down to low, Everyone says ' you just gotta let it go'. "
They're… They're sick of me… I know they are. I don't know this Kiki… but I have to prove to them that I'm better. I can deal with Xana better than anyone. I can't be replaced… I just cant.
She began to drift into unconsciousness, losing all contact with the dark room around her, and falling back into yet another nightmare.
"So… do you think you should… you know… tell Kiks a little more about Kiki?" Ulrich asked Odd as they walked toward their room.
"Why? So she can fall into an uncontrollable rage and try repeatedly to put me through intense pain?"
"Well… Its not gonna look very good if you hold off and she finds out on her own Odd. That'll probably just make her madder. I know it would for any other girl."
"Listen Ulrich. Kiki and me aren't together anymore. We had our time, it didn't work."
"Actually… It worked perfectly until she moved. As far as I was concerned… I thought you two were trying a long distance relationship, in which case she may think you're still dating."
"Then Ill tell her that I found someone new and that we need to move on… but I'm not mentioning anything to Kiks."
"Don't you think that's a bit awkward?"
"What?"
"Kiki and Kiks, the two love interests of Odd."
"No. Kiks, Odd's only love interest." He scowled.
"You say that now… but what if you change your mind when you see Kiki?"
"You think that that could happen?" Odd asked, falling into a state of worry. "After all that me and Kiks have been through… you don't actually think that.. just seeing Kiki could change anything… do you?"
"I dunno. You loved Kiki.. and you love Kiks. When you love someone, it cant just go away Odd… So I think… you're going to have a problem. I'm telling you, you need to just explain to Kiks that you two used to be together, but that you're trying to move on and that you want to do it with her."
Odd looked at the floor in desperation, unsure of how he was going to handle the situation. "If I tell her that we were together… she'll be suspicious and wont trust me."
"Well… when you don't tell her and she sees the way you look at Kiki, or overhears Kiki saying something about the past… she'll be suspicious anyway. But hey—you know her better than I do. So do whatever you want." Ulrich finished laying down on his bed and turning away from Odd.
Odd sighed heavily. "Your probably right… but Id rather tell her after her greatly needed vacation."
"I can understand that. But…"
"What?"
"You don't think the way Jeremie told her that Kiki could take her place… upset her? Do you?"
"Oh.. I didn't think about that."
"She looked sort of disappointed."
"I'm sure she's fine with it."
"Yeah.. she is pretty understanding. I probably just read her wrong." Ulrich said, reaching over and cutting off his light.
"I am looking forward to seeing Kiki again."
"We all are. She's fun to work with."
"Yeah. She had mad fighting skills."
"Uhhh… Kiks does to Odd…"
"I know. But the difference is that a) Kiki doesn't blow herself up and b) Kiki doesn't have the same form as me."
Ulrich laughed. "Go to sleep Odd."
"G' Night Ulrich." Odd surrendered.
"Holy cow! YOU LOOK GREAT!" Yumi cried, hugging her old friend.
The blonde haired girl laughed happily. "I'm just glad you all haven't forgotten me!" She said, hugging each person in turn, and giving Odd an especially long embrace.
"We missed you." He said quietly, turning red.
"I missed you all too!"
"So where'd you go?" Jeremie asked.
"Oh.. I went back to the U.S. for a while. You know… to see my parents and what not."
Kiks watched the group from behind a large pillar, letting out a heavy sigh. I'm done. They really like her. They wouldn't miss me. She left the safety of the pillar and began to walk toward her class, not looking toward the group. I'm sure they'll stop me and try to introduce me… they probably.. just… didn't want to bother me this morning.. I'm sure that's it… they didn't want to wake me up… She tried her best to reassure herself, although she knew that the group had probably forgotten her in the rush to meet up with their old groupie.
Ulrich looked up, the smile fading off of his face as he watched Kiks walk away.
"What's wrong Ulrich?" Kiki asked.
"Oh—uh… nothing. I hope you don't mind, but I have to talk to Ms. Mayor before class… so… I'm going to have to leave you guys."
"No problem." They answered, Ulrich walking off in the direction that Kiks had been going. He entered the school building cautiously.
I was right. She's upset. No one in their right minds would go to class this early. Turning around a corner slowly, Kiks came into view. He saw her leaning her back up against a locker, staring at the ground miserably; her arms wrapped around her books.
"Hey Kiks." He said quietly, coming towards her.
" Hi Ulrich. " She answered, a noticeably fake smile crossing her face.
"You didn't come and talk to us this morning."
"Yeah… I didn't want to interrupt your reunion."
He put his arm around her in a hug.
"Spit it out Kiks."
"What?"
"You're upset. I can tell."
She looked back down at the ground in slight embarrassment and sadness. "You all… Jeremie… he said…--"
"She isn't replacing you Kiks."
"No… I know.." A moment of silence past, followed up by Kiks shrugging Ulrich's arm off of her. She looked at him, tears beginning to swell her eyes. "She's just taking back what was hers."
She turned and ran, putting her hand to her eyes as she went, and practically throwing herself through the doors.
Ulrich looked after her, unsure of what to do. He turned back in the direction he had came and went back out to where the rest of the group was standing.
"You talked to her?" Yumi asked.
"Who?"
"Ms. Mayor."
"Oh… yeah… I did. It… wasn't pretty." He looked down at the ground, thinking over what little Kiks had said and finally shooting Odd an 'I need to talk to you' glance, which Odd nodded back to.
"So Kiki… I reinstated your Lyoko form, I hope you don't mind being back on the team?"
"Are you kidding!? Fighting with you all in Lyoko is what I live for!"
"Cool." Odd said. "You have Ms. Mayor first period with us? Right?"
"Yeah. Can.. can I sit with you? I never really got to know any of these other people."
"Sure." He answered.
"You don't mind.. do you Ulrich?"
"Umm.. no. Actually, I was going to sit with.. uh… Kiks."
"Kiks? Whose that?"
"Her name is Kiaka. She's really cool." Odd replied. "She knows about Lyoko too. She's an awesome fighter… I'm sure you two would really like working together."
"Uh… I guess."
"Well you wont be worrying about working together for quite awhile, I've set Kiks on a nice long vacation…"
"Why? Did she screw something up?"
The group looked back with wide eyes. "NO!" Jeremie said hurriedly, noticing the way his statement had sounded. "Lets just say that Xana really likes her."
"I though you said she was a good fighter… what does it matter?"
Before anyone could answer, the bell rang and the hordes of students began to rush across the courtyard towards their classes.
"We'll be late if we don't hurry!" Jeremie said as quickly as before.
Walking into the room, Odd sat in his normal place, Kiki by his side. Jeremie sat behind them and Ulrich took a seat on the other side of the room. He looked around, not seeing Kiks anywhere. Great. She hasn't come back yet. She must be really upset. Ms. Mayor's sight fell on Kiki, who she called to the front of the classroom, reintroducing her to everyone and asking her questions about where she had been since she left. Halfway through the questions and answers, the door opened slowly. The familiar skirt and boot clad brunette walked in slowly, closing the door behind her. All of this she did without raising her head. She nodded a slight apology to her teacher, and looked around the room. Looking at Odd, She noted the new females book next to him and headed back towards the first open seat she saw… the one next to Theo. Ulrich began calling her name quietly, getting no response other than a shake of the head back.
"Uhh… why aren't you sitting with Ulrich? Or.. Odd…"
"I dunno." She answered in a sullen manner.
"Hey… I know we didn't really get off on the right track, but uhh… is something the matter?"
She raised her head slightly and scanned the boy sitting next to her. He's actually pretty cute… and he seems like he cares… "No. I just… I think Odd wants to get reacquainted with his friend."
"Kiki?"
"Yes."
"Whoa dude… they were more than friends."
Kiks' eyes opened wide in shock, her lip beginning to tremble. "They … were?"
"Yeah. Those two were like… all over each other… all the time… they were worse than Ulrich and Yumi… it was like… how Sissy wanted to be with Ulrich."
The brunette girl let out a slight fake laugh and a smile, betrayal welling up inside her.
"You think they still like each other?"
"I wouldn't doubt it… well.. I know Kiki still likes Odd, I heard them talking when they walked in. But… hold on, aren't you and Odd together?"
"Well… I thought we were… but… I don't know. If he likes her more, Id rather him be with her."
"I'm sorry… He didn't tell you anything about this… did he?"
"No."
"He probably had a reason… I'm really sorry, I shouldn't have said anything."
"No… thankyou… I needed to know… I'm glad someone told me."
"Hey… Uh… I couldn't help but notice how you didn't try to talk to them this morning… you uh.. you wanna hang out… you know.. until you get everything straightened out? Id really like to start things over with you… when we're not fighting about Sissy…"
"Id like that. Thanks again, but don't you think Sissy would get a little mad?"
"She likes Ulrich."
"Oh… well… sure, I guess it couldn't hurt anything."
"Cool."
Jeremie poked Odd in the back as Kiki sat back down.
"What is it?"
"Did you ever tell Kiks about you and Kiki?"
"No…"
"Well… did you have a reason?"
"I didn't want to worry her, what with you having said the thing about Kiki filling in for her."
"Well…. Uh… Odd…."
"Yes."
"You may have a problem…"
"Why?"
"Judging from the wide eyed and shocked expression on Kiks face a minute ago, I'm willing to bet she knows about you and Kiki now."
"Who would have told her?"
"Did you happen to see who shes sitting with?"
"Ulrich.. isn't she?"
"No."
"HUH!?" Odd turned as nonchalantly as possible to see Kiks and Theo having a friendly conversation, and more than anything, Theo hitting on her. He threw his head down on the table. "Man."
"What is it Odd?" Kiki asked in confusion.
"Theo's making moves on my g- Kiks."
"Isn't that good? Maybe her and Theo'll get together, after all… having a boyfriend relieves a lot of stress."
Odd didn't answer.
"Actually Kiki… uh… She does have a boyfriend." Jeremie said quietly.
"Really? Good for her!" She smiled. "Who?"
"Uh.. Odd."
Kiki turned back around to look at Odd, more confusion than before and eyes as wide as Kiks' had been. "You're… you're with … her?" She asked, her voice quivering. She turned back around to look at Kiks, who was looking back at her with her head down on her arms and tears in her eyes.
"Why didn't… why didn't you say something Odd?"
"I don't know." He said desperately. " I didn't want you to… to be mad at me."
"For moving on?"
"Yeah."
"Well… I'm not… I mean… I wouldn't have.. but… I can understand that you liked her too.. and … I was gone… so… I guess.. you know…"
"I'm sorry Kiki… I didn't expect you to come back…"
"I understand." She smiled at him. The same friendly look covering her face. "Why'd you… uh… she looks pretty upset Odd. Didn't you tell her anything?"
"I told her we were friends."
"Oh. Well… I know I wouldn't be too happy if I walked in to find my boyfriend sitting with another girl… hehe… I guess its good I didn't come in here late…" She laughed. "Sorry. But seriously… your girl doesn't look very happy."
The conversation was cut off by Kiks' voice. "Ms. Mayor, may I go to the infirmary? I'm really.. not feeling very good."
"Oh… Kiaka… You don't sound very good… What's wrong?"
"I'm not sure. My chest is burning for some reason… I'm not sure what… but it hurts… can I go please?"
"Of course."
The class watched as she ran out of the room, her hand clutching the skin just below her neck.
"Ms. Mayor? Can I go check on her?" Ulrich asked.
"Well… normally I wouldn't allow it… but… I know you two are friends, so I suppose it would be ok."
"Thank you." He said, running after her. When he had gotten into the hall, he looked for the right direction. Not far up he could see her. What on earth? He thought, hearing a soft melody. What's going on? He ran after the girl as fast as he could, but even in her boots and skirt she was faster than him.
"Kiks! WAIT!" She didn't listen. Turning a corner fast enough to make his feet slightly slip out from under him he came to a dead stop.
"KIKS!?!?!" Up ahead of him, the shape and form of Kiks was floating in midair, a necklace around her neck had begun to glow intensely bright, and moments later her boots and clothing as well as her hair had begun to glow the same bright white. Her entire body was turning in the air and her eyes were closed, she looked as if she was free falling, but upwards. It has to be something Xana's done. He thought, running back to the classroom. He ran in, grabbed Odd and Jeremie and pulled them out. Kiki followed them, knowing it could only be a Xana alert.
"What's wrong with YOU!?" Odd asked in an extremely frustrated voice.
"What's wrong with me… I've heard this before… Your g—Kiks… THAT'S WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME."
"WHAT'S HAPPENED TO HER?!?!" Odd yelled, running ahead of Ulrich.
" I don't know. Something Xana-ish?" He asked. Before the had turned the corner, they could see the light. Kiks was exactly as she had been when Ulrich left.
"Wow. You didn't tell me she could float…" Kiki retorted.
"Shes not supposed to." Odd answered.
"Actually…"Commented Jeremie, "I've got a feeling she is."
"WHAT?!"
"Uh… think about where she came from."
"Crap."
"What are you talking about?" Kiki asked.
"You don't want to know."
"MY guess is… that her emotions trigger something… whatever that is…" Jeremie replied, pointing at her. As in response to his answer, Kiks dropped, landing gracefully like a cat with one leg down, the other knee up, and her arms to the sides. Black streaks had appeared in her hair, and the necklace she had been wearing now had the Lyoko symbol on it, glowing a bright red. Out of nowhere, laughing began to be heard. From somewhere behind them, they could hear footsteps.
"What's going on?!" Odd asked. Just then, a boy with spiky black hair walked around the corner. He was wearing a necklace identical to Kiks' and his hair had blonde tips on its inch long spikes. He walked past the group, straight over to Kiks, who he grabbed softly by the hand, pulling her up.
She looked at him in confusion. "Shadow?"
He nodded at her.
"How did you… you were… how did you get here?"
"The same way you did… obviously." He said. Pointing out the similarity in attire.
"Oh my god."