The None Too Bright

By Ahhelga

Author's Note: Yay! For I have updated! I know you guys have been all attacking me on not updating (anything), but what could I say? School's murder, and it's only going to get worse throughout the summer (because I go to year-round school); so, don't blame me. Blame the Los Angeles Unified School District. (Darn you stupid LAUSD.) Also, I'll lessen on the cursing, so don't worry. Okay, well, finally, I bring you the update.

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: Owning means to have all rights to it, and could lease it out, and do whatever you want with it; I don't have that power over KND, so therefore I don't own it!

Chapter 2
Even in the Darkness

The next few minutes were of Calli and Kairi just walking by some restaurants and stores as Calli explained the origin of her name, with Kairi questioning a lot. She was rather confused about the interest in her name, but she knew better than to just ask rudely.

"I see…" said Kairi after Calli explained.

"It makes me wonder…what kind of girl my father was after," she said. "I mean, it was a long, long time ago."

Kairi took in a deep breath. "Sometimes, it's just hard to let go of the ones you love."

"I guess," she shrugged. "I just kind of find it dumb to think that anyone would think they would have a chance after all these years with someone they fell in love with after a decade or so. My dad seems to have gotten over her, because he started dating again."

By now, Kairi looked a little defeated, or disappointed; Calli couldn't tell. She never was one to read expressions. Perhaps Kairi thought she could date Calli's dad? Nah, she recalled seeing a wedding ring. But when she just checked at that moment, it seemed that she took it off. It was obvious—there was a tan line.

"What are you looking at?" Kairi asked uncomfortably.

"Your finger," Calli said simply. "There used to be a ring on it, now there's not. And look, there's a tan line."

The older woman turned her head to the side so that Calli couldn't see. She had no idea what she was feeling. Maybe Kairi felt ashamed, found-out, shocked, squishy inside? But when Kairi turned to Calli, it was obvious that since her eyes were shiny, that she held tears.

She was a widow.

Maybe this was how it was. Kairi was married, and then the husband dies. Kairi can't let go of him because of feeling despair. But then when she meets Calli's dad, she gets a nice feeling, so she regrets wearing the ring all the time anymore and just gives up. So now, she let's go of the feeling of her dead husband.

"I'm sorry," Calli muttered.

Kairi looked a little taken aback. "What? There's no need to feel sorry! It's not like my old husband and I were much in love—I wanted that to happen!"

Whoa. She like…killed her husband! Calli thought.

She became icy pale, and realized that a murderer was right beside her. Calli had to stumble and keep herself up instead of just collapsing right there. What was she getting herself into! She was walking right into a murderer's hands! Her father would be devastated when he finds out that she was killed! And her father! He might've been dead by now because he was alone in a room with Kairi, this murderer!

"Is something the matter?" Kairi asked, concerned. "You look so pale, and you look as if you're about to faint!"

"I am!" Calli snapped back. "Y-you're a murderer! You wanted to kill your ex-husband and you did!"

People around them were now staring strangely at them. Some had horrendous looks on their faces, and others had total disgust and anger. Kairi's eyes bugged out of her head and slapped her forehead in hopelessness. Where did the kid get the idea of her killing her—she stopped herself in the question, and instead thought of an answer; she probably thought she was a widow and what she just said sounded as if she killed him.

You know you want to do that, she mused. But then she snapped back to what was going on around her.

"What!" Kairi replied loudly. "I didn't kill him, I just got divorced this afternoon, so he is still alive and well. We could go over his parents' place right now and I could show you that he's either crying to his parents—the wussy he is—or just talking with the lawyer."

Calli felt realization hit her, and a bit of shame. She felt the heat go to her face and then looked down as she said, "Oh…" Then she laughed a little at her accusations.

Kairi started to crack a smile, which made Calli laugh a little more, who had made Kairi giggle. Soon enough, they were laughing loudly. People around stared again. Their laughter filled the air, as if they were the closest of beings around.

"M' glad I met you," Calli said, with a little of her dad's accent hitting her.

Kairi forgot who she was talking to or where she was, but that instantly brought her back. This girl…this girl…was Wally's daughter. A bit of giddiness was building in her gut and everything just seemed so content for her, but was it all worth it? It wasn't like she ever did have a chance with Wally. She shook away all thoughts about Wally. He wasn't what she needed at the moment. What she needed was to get to know this girl she just befriended. Would that be like using Calli to get to Wally? No, not at all. Not at all. Right?

Wally had flung himself over the couch, just as he did the night before. Work wasn't murderous, it wasn't today actually, and he was just so exasperated with yesterday's events. He saw her.

It gave him hope that she could be in his life again. That was impossible, he told himself. Really, that was because she even told him that she couldn't. She was married, for Christ's sake! And besides, she was still in the Witness Protection Program, content and everything. Nobody needed to know, not even him. It was frustrating for him to know that she was right there in his state, his city even, and yet he can't do a thing to let her back into his life.

"Kuki," he cried out into the air. "We could raise Calli together. We could have a happy life. I want you back. I need you."

Calli felt so content around Kairi. It was just a nice feeling to have. She hadn't known why, but it was obvious that this adult was special from all the others.

She got along well with Calli, which was rare, even for kids. She had instant connection with her father, not just for each other's looks. Kairi even let Calli break the present day's rules for kids! But to top it all off, which Calli hadn't mentioned once during their walk, was that Kairi was approving of the KND. She even claimed that she was the famous Numbuh 3 and her dad was Numbuh 4 (that was the unbelievable part, so she didn't trust that one).

She trusted her well, and trust was an important thing in Calli's life. She took in a deep breath. They were almost at the corner. Just turn left, and a few blocks down, you'd get to her home.

"Kairi, do you want to stop by my place for a drink?" Calli asked, a little shyly.

Kairi smiled softly, that showed a good heart. "Sure, I'd like that. But are you sure? What about your dad?"

Calli shrugged. "Oh, Dad doesn't care about who I bring in, and I really want you to have a drink with me."

Kairi licked her lips softly as she looked up towards the bright blue sky. It was so calming. Just one word escaped her mouth: "Yeah…"

The young girl grinned. Kairi just followed Calli around the corner and down the few blocks. It seemed like a long three and a half minutes, but once they reached there, it seemed like perfect timing.

"I'm parched," said Calli. "I'm gonna go get some water, what do you want?"

Calli opened the door to the house as she waited for Kairi's response. When they got inside, with Kairi watching, gaping a bit at its urban theme, Calli took off her shoes. Kairi followed along, and then answered.

"I'd like a root beer," Kairi said with a pause. "Do you have some?"

"Just your luck," Calli smirked. "Dad's in love with the stuff, so we always have crate-load."

"Just like Wally," Kairi barely whispered with a small shake of the head and giggle.

Calli turned to her, "What was that, Kairi?"

"Oh, nothing, I was just saying what a great place this is," she replied.

Calli shrugged. But then again, it was a pretty nice home. There were contemporary-type chairs and beanbags with a large TV at the corner. The interesting purple shade of the carpet oddly matched the different-colored furniture (like how one of the chairs were yellow, and another was blue, and the couch was a bright white), and the walls were a nice shade of soft white. It may've been an odd, yet stylish, kind of living room, but it was what Calli was used to. Besides, she designed it herself. If it was up to her father, he'd be only getting bargain store stained furniture. She smiled to herself at that.

Calli went into the kitchen as she motioned Kairi to go on and sit at the couch. By the time Calli was gone, Kairi had done so. She admired at the interior some more, but then she decided to just sit. It wasn't long until she found herself standing in front of the man she had loved for years. Although this time, he was sleeping like a baby.

She found herself staring at the blonde man. The rough looking goatee he held on was very flattering that made him look much…hotter. Kairi felt herself melt at the sight, but she didn't want to wake him. In fact, she didn't want him to see her at all. Who knows what they'd do to each other. Besides, it would be wrong she was married…

Wait a minute… she thought to herself, smiling. No I'm not. I am officially no longer married today. Good bye, Mark!

Hello, Wally.

She struck herself at the thought. What was happening to her? After one meeting, he was all on her mind (other than divorcing Mark, which was in some way related to him). It wasn't right. She was in the WPP still, and…she'd want nothing more. Sighing she stood still.

Just as Kairi was done with her thoughts, Calli had walked in. The young girl stood there, unmoving, holding the cold glasses of their drinks until it numbed her fingers. She hadn't expected her dad to be home so early. She had felt strong vibrations from Kairi that made the room feel awkward.

Calli uneasily extended her arm towards Kairi, motioning that she should get it. Kairi just stared at her after she glanced at Wally. After a slight moment, the older woman shook her head.

"Um, I think I should go," Kairi said. "Since your dad's here and all, he could wake up and realize you brought a stranger home."

Calli stared at her for the moment and then looked down at the cups. "But you're not a stranger. I just made friends with you, Kairi. And Daddy knows I know how to choose my friends well.

"Besides, you already knew him, right?"

Kairi's eyes were looking as if they were dry, and Calli realized then that she hadn't blinked the whole time. Her rare violet eyes glowed. Calli bit her lower lip. The numbness ached her fingers.

"Please," Calli pleaded with mostly her big green eyes. "You're no stranger to me. You're no stranger to us. You even said so yourself… Numbuh 3."

Kairi felt her face grow numb. It was almost as numb as Calli's fingers, though she didn't know that. She hadn't heard that in ages. It was a mystery that Calli would bring it up then, but she knew why. It was the perfect moment and besides…she should have expected that. It was a wonder why Calli hadn't mentioned this sooner.

Kairi's breath was shallower now and a little quicker, as opposed to Calli's lack of breath. The young girl hadn't heard Kairi's breathing at the moment because she herself couldn't hear anything. She was kind of afraid of the older one's reaction. There was an awkward silence in the air, accompanied by Wally's heavy breathing as he lay asleep.

Kairi was first to speak up, and thankfully for Calli's sake. "I…don't believe that I am this 'Numbuh 3' you speak of."

The frown on Calli's face became an untruthful one. She saw the knowing glint in Kairi's eyes. And although Calli was the type to argue and say that she was, she decided to go along with it because she was in no mood to speak up of anything.

"Sorry. Are you going to get your root beer?" Calli asked, a little impatient.

Kairi nodded and then walked up to her. She paused as she stared at the cup, then she grabbed it. Calli started to drink her water as the grown-up gulped down the root beer.

"Thank you," Kairi murmured.

Calli acknowledged the thanks but she didn't say anything in return. They stood silently, every so often taking a long hard sip from their drinks until they finished it down. Calli kept still, it was better that way since the air was so awkward.

"When I brought you here, I thought something'd happen that we wouldn't need to worry about what to do," Calli said.

Kairi looked around the room. "It seems your dad can sleep as sound as a rock," she said. It was as if she hadn't heard Calli at all.

Calli glanced at her sleeping father. He always liked naps during the day, otherwise at night he'd be practically dead. She nodded.

"It seems he's always been that way," Calli sighed. "Always tired or something. But sure, when he's awake, he tends to be very jumpy. It's like he has ADD or something."

Kairi lightly chuckled at her remark. And then her laughter died away and her expression became a mock-scolding look. She started, dramatically, "Don't you dare talk about your father that way." She surpassed a giggle. "It's not very…nice." She smiled brightly now.

Calli smiled back. She then shrugged slightly.

Kairi started again, "But…I was very hyper as a child, very…lively and exuberant. However, I was very oblivious to many things because of that back then."

"Were you a good operative?" Calli had accidentally let it slip, and she quickly shut her mouth.

Kairi looked at her blankly and then stared at the ceiling.

"I was more or less a good child," she simply replied. "Same thing goes for operative."

Now that they were on the subject, Calli became curious. "What about Dad?"

Kairi opened her mouth to reply, but then shut it. She didn't know what to say about him. She knew she shouldn't even be talking about this. Instead of answering, she held onto the glass in her hand tighter and headed for the kitchen. It wasn't polite to make the host put it away all by herself without even offering. Calli watched her as she did so and then after a few moments she followed in tow.

Their footsteps in the kitchen echoed towards the living room. The living room was dead silent after that. Even the breathing from Wally wasn't heard. Well, that had a reason of course.

He had listened to every word they had said. He had been awake the whole time. There was just one thing to do.

Get Kairi.

Author's Note: Well, this chapter was totally lacking in plot. Um, please review.

That's me
Ahhelga
AKA Pauline