The None Too Bright

By Ahhelga

Author's Note: Well, it's time for that update again. I was hoping you guys would remember my story. :sweat-drop: And…well, you're right, it's more of a sequel than a spin-off. Anyway, here's Chapter one!

Summary: Who was that woman who seemed like the perfect adult—the perfect mother? I only talked to her for a second, but she was the most amazing woman I ever met. If she was right all along, then...why didn't they marry? (Spin-off of W.I.T.N.E.S.S.)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. So don't sue, okay?

Chapter 1
A Curse Called Love

The moon was high up and the sky was dark. Only crickets made noises. As if they knew what was going on, they ceased "creaking" and let the noises of a girl dominate them.

Calli fell through the opening. She had climbed the tree to get to her bed-room window. Hoping to have landed on the bed, she failed as her face met with the floor. Her laziness and tiredness had made her become in more discomfort. She groaned as she let her arms pick herself up.

"Stupid Numbuh 71 and his bossing ways," she muttered to herself. "I couldn't even sleep at the tree house because of him. God, and he expects us to be at top condition when I'm aching to the bone. I hate him, I hate him, and I hate him."

She groaned again as she now slumped on her bed. The soft mattress felt good on her back and she smiled… Hopefully, Dad hadn't noticed she was gone.

At the same time, down stairs, Wally groaned as he fell through the door, landing on his face. Doing the same as Calli, he picked up himself with his arms saying a select choice of words.

"Fuck that Mr. Park," he muttered. "All he does is blab, blab, blab, and doesn't even think of who he's dealing with. I don't care if he's the CEO of Chon Inc. Psh, that isn't even a great company. And he expects me to be on top of my game. Ack. As if. I hate him, I hate him, and I hate him…"

He groaned as he slumped on to the living room couch. He seemed to melt at the soft cushions and throw-pillows. Hopefully, Calli hadn't seen him missing so late…

Calli, grudging her way down the stairs, had wiped her eye. She let herself yawn and stretch but noticed that the couch was occupied. This had got her started, awoken from her near sleep-walking self. She hurriedly walked over to the couch and looked down on the man lying; fast asleep, in front of her. A rugged goatee surrounded his open mouth (which was causing him to drool—not something she wanted to see) and he was snoring. She shook her head in disappointment and prodded him slightly, however, letting out a sign of relief.

"Daddy…" she said softly. Then, to herself, "Must've come home late. Good thing too, or else I'd be in deep shit."

Unexpectedly, the sleeping man had grabbed her by her waist with his both arms. She could tell that he was fake-sleeping now, so she let out a squeal, all the while giggling.

"You are going to be in deep shit, because you just said that!" he 'growled' at her.

Her giggles stopped and realized what she said. Her laughing face became a worried frown at what she just said. His face, too, became that. But, instead of him scolding her, like she thought, he hugged her tightly.

"Oh, don't worry, Hun," he opened one of his eyes at her, the other one still close. His small smile said a thousand words at her.

She sighed out of both relief and disappointment and hugged him back. He started rocking back and forth but she stopped him from doing so.

"Besides, I used to say stuff like that at your age too," he ruffled her hair, which was free because of the missing hat. He noticed this. "Calli…why on Earth is your hat missing?"

She stared at him blankly and suddenly remembered. She wasn't sure he was going to like this so she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"It flew off while skateboarding," she opened one eye to peer at him.

His face was a bit of disappointment and curiosity. "How could you be so careless with your hat? That's so unlike you."

She rolled her eyes at him. "It so is, Dad. You just…don't know it."

He raised a brow. "Oh really?" he said, letting go of her.

"Yeah, whenever me and my teammates are off on a battle mission—" she stopped there and realized what she was saying. "I mean when we're playing battle mission in the back of Steve's house, of course, I always lose it."

He made a face and turned to her, "You never said anything about it."

"Because I always get it back," she replied, stepping back in to the kitchen entrance. "I gotta get ready for school." And with that, she ended the uncomfortable conversation.

The papers were straightened in the stack. The man straightening them sighed and looked over to his client, Mark Lune. They gave each other a winning smile. Across them, were sitting Mr. Harold Wein and his client, Ms. Kairi Watanabe.

"So, that's that," said Mark Lune's attorney, Christopher Reuter. "The deed is done. We have an understanding with the prenuptial agreement says?"

"Yes, yes," said Mr. Wein said bored. "Ms. Watanabe read each word on that pre-nup when she signed and agreed to it, so of course."

Kairi felt a slight tinge at her maiden name being called. It had been a while since she had been called with that name. Her ex-husband sat in front of her, eyes grave on the desk. She felt an emotion mixed with a slight discomfort and relief. She wasn't sure why. She felt as if she could collapse into anyone's hands right now.

She felt stunned. She forgot about what he was going to give her. All she needed was the home. Perhaps he was giving her the apartment? No…he was much too greedy for that.

"Okay, so for the final testament, I was thinking of signing a contract in testimony that my client gets which ever she and him both owned," Mr. Wein said.

Reuter turned to his client and they both kept their eyes on each other for a while. Then Mark nodded slightly and Reuter turned to the opposing side. He took a sigh and folded his hands.

"Very well, but my client and I would like to know what interest you have in what you wanted…" Reuter said softly.

Kairi looked to Mr. Wein and made a face. Then, lowly, she said, "I want the apartment. And Max."

Wein nodded and turned to Reuter. "Well, you heard her. Or is that too much for Mr. Lune, here."

Mark made a face and leaned in slightly. "You could take Max, but not the apartment."

"It's mine too!" Kairi snapped. "I need a place to stay!"

"You know very well that I do too," Mark said, leaning in further, as well her.

"You've got your parents' house," she said matter-of-factly. "They've got all that you need. A mansion, a whole house for you, a hundred-yard pool, for God's sake!"

"Well, I can't," he stated. Then he turned to his lawyer. "See it fit that I get that apartment."

Reuter sighed and piled the papers together… He knew neither of the couple was going to give up their home.

"Maybe we could…make an agreement?" Wein suggested, then he turned to Kairi. She stared at her hands and then at Wein. Kairi made a face but nodded slowly.

"What kind of agreement?" both she and Mark asked simultaneously.

Wein furrowed his brows and clasped his hands together. "Maybe…we could let the manager decide? Because, well, it is his property, and you have to move out anyway. I checked both your balances and neither of you could keep it that high."

Kairi and Mark and even Reuter stared at Wein at the comment. Mark sat back in his chair comfortably.

"Seems reasonable…" he said, then he glanced at Kairi who scowled at him.

"Fine, neither of us get it," then she turned to Mark. "Happy?"

"Very," he smirked as he laughed.

"Well then, it's settled," Reuter adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses. "Watanabe gets Max, Lune gets 60 of the marriage profits, leaving Watanabe with 40. Fair enough."

They stamped and signed some papers and Kairi and Mark were free to go. Forever.

She jumped for joy outside of the federal building.

"I'm free!" she exclaimed and waited for valet to bring up her car.

Slowly, she saw it coming and rushed for it. Upon doing so, she accidentally stumbled on a hat. Orange hat. Strange. Instantly, she thought of Calli, who reminded her of Wally. A feeling of guilt and sadness hit her in the chest. She wished she could see them again. But that would be a negative because she's always been secretive about her life. Sighing, she got her keys, tipping and thanking the driver. She adjusted the seat and drove off, with the hat in the chair by her side.

Calli sighed at herself. She was going down the same road her hat flew off. Just then she felt sudden sadness for it. The feeling of nostalgia came creeping but she didn't exactly know why. This led her to almost crash into a sleek black car. It honked at her and she fell from her skateboard. A bit of anger built up in her but she decided to do what her Dad told her, count to ten. In a matter of seconds, she was back to herself.

But that didn't mean she couldn't bad mouth the person.

"Hey, stop being such an ass and watch it!" she said.

The windows that reflected the sun so it was almost blinding Calli's eyes were going slowly down, along with the sound of the buzzing of the electric car. A head poked out with an annoyed face. Instantly, they both stared at each other.

"How come I always seem to 'bump' into you?" said the lady. It was that lady.

Her car pulled over, to let cars behind pass through. She parked and came out to stand by Calli. The young girl looked up at the lady. She held her skateboard tightly and blinked.

"Who are you?" Calli asked.

The woman sighed. "Someone you don't wanna know."

Calli looked up to her with the utmost sincerity. "But I really do."

She sighed and looked down at Calli. Something was different. Calli didn't have her hat. Was that hat…? She very quickly grabbed the hat from her car, while Calli watched.

"Is this your hat?" she asked curiously.

Calli stared at the orange thing in her hands. It was kind of dirty, but it was obviously hers. She rapidly nodded her head and smiled. The woman placed it backwards on her head.

"Let's go for a walk…" she said to Calli, who replied with a nod. "My name is Kairi, by the way."

"Calli," she replied.

"There must be so much meaning to that name…" she said as they walked down the side-walk, side-by-side.

Author's Note: Oh dear Lord. I never thought crap could take form like this. Well…I hope you enjoyed it. I didn't. Oh, and sorry it was so short.

That's me
Ahhelga
AKA Pauline