YAY! REVIEWS! (hugs reviewers) I'm…so…HAPPYYYYY…

Okay, anyway, lets get started… MUWAHAHAHAHA!

The Char Corner!

Godell: (insane/alluring gin) WELCOME BACK, everyone!

Bartimaus: (is feeling ill) What sort of stuff is gonna happen this time?

Godell: (puts index finger to lips) "Now, THAT is a secret!"

Nathaniel: You're just doing that because you know I hate Xellos, aren't you.

Godell: Yup!

Bartimaus: But Nathaniel, I like Xellos…

Godell: (sweatdrop) Uh, shouldn't we continue?

Nat & Bartimaus: Yeah, anything to get away from this torture.

(Sounds of Godell clobbering her co-hosts with her mike)

Disclaimer: (sigh) Take a guess.

Chapter Nine: The Climax Begins?

Bartimaus blinked. It had been an hour after Kimmy's sudden…well, I won't go into details…let's just say she enjoyed herself. Taking a quick glance around, Bartimaus stood up, yawned—and ripped off the bandanna! Looking down at it, the djinni made a face. The cloth was pink with frills on it, and a purple jewel in the center. "Ugh." He stuck his tongue out at the bandanna, and chucked it into the fire with enthusiasm. "Okay…now, to find a way to get out of here! But first—a change of style!" Bartimaus cried, as he transformed himself into a surfer-dude with bangs that nearly covered his eyes, and wore (so that Kimmy wouldn't get suspicious) a purple tanktop and black shorts. Grinning to himself, he charged out of the room, thinking up plans of escape…

Meanwhile….

Kitty and Nathaniel sat together on the back of a afrit/dragon, alongside Farquarl and the others. "I wonder exactly how we can even defeat Kimmy anyway?" Nat wondered aloud as they passed the Eifel Tower. "Dunno, lets ask Farquarl—HEY 'FART-QUARREL'! HOW DO WE DEFEAT KIMMY!" Kitty replied with a grin, turning to Farquarl, who was now a raven. "Will you just stop calling me that! And no, I have no clue what we can do." The "raven" squawked. "Oh. Okay, 'Fart-Quarrel'!" Nathaniel and Kitty replied, laughing at Farquarl's peeved expression—at least for a raven anyway. "I swear, after this is through, I'm going to make you two mute."

Back at Kimmy's Hideout, in Velexis' Room…

Velexis smiled at his reflection in the mirror. He was wearing a purple mail shirt and black leggings, and had a bandanna that said "Go Go Kimmy" in violet. Doing a few warm-up exercises, the "Knight" took a last look at his room before he went to see Kimmy. His room was filled with clothes, weights, a few CD's, and karaoke machines. His bed was white, with purple handprints on the sheets, obviously his. With a satisfied smirk, Velexis closed the door. I can't wait to hear what plan Lady Kimmy has in store for Bartimaus and his "rescuers". he thought with a almost-childlike smile.

Kimmy's Hideout, the game room…

"w00t! Oh yeah! Go me, go me!" Kimmy squealed to herself as the karaoke machine gave her a 88 for good singing. With a smile, she picked another song, and began again:

(Hey, Hey)
Bye, Bye, Bye
Bye, Bye...
Bye, Bye...
Oh, Oh..

I'm doin' this tonight,
You're probably gonna start a fight.
I know this can't be right.
Hey baby come on,
I loved you endlessly,
When you weren't there for me.
So now it's time to leave and make it alone
I know that I can't take no more
It ain't no lie
I wanna see you out that door
Baby, bye, bye, bye...

Bye Bye
Don't wanna be a fool for you
Just another player in your game for two
You may hate me but it ain't no lie,
Baby, bye, bye, bye...
Bye Bye

Velexis poked his head in the doorway. "Hello Miss Kim. How're you doing?" Kimmy just nodded in response, and continued singing, as her "Knight" sat on a couch nearby to watch.


Don't really wanna make it tough,
I just wanna tell you that I had enough.
It might sound crazy,
But it ain't no lie,
Baby, bye, bye, bye

(Oh, Oh)
Just hit me with the truth,
Now, girl you're more than welcome to.
So give me one good reason,
Baby come on
I live for you and me,
And now I really come to see,
That life would be much better once you're gone.

I know that I can't take no more
It ain't no lie,
I wanna see you out that door
Baby, bye, bye, bye...
Bye Bye
Don't wanna be a fool for you
Just another player in your game for two

Bartimaus, as it happened, was running right past the game room at that moment. Screeching to a halt, he stopped and listened, feeling adrenaline thumping through his "body". "Heh. Makes me want to sing alongside her…" With a evil smile, the djinni noticed several cords lying nearby, one which said "Lights" another "Karaoke" and yet another with "Everything Else". Slowly, Bartimaus inched towards the cords, mentally cackling in evil laughter…

You may hate me but it ain't no lie,
Baby Bye, bye, bye...
Bye Bye
Don't really wanna make it tough,
I just wanna tell you that I had enough (ooh ooh)
It might sound crazy,
But it ain't no lie,
Baby, bye, bye, bye

I'm giving up I know for sure
I don't wanna be the reason for your love no more
Bye Bye
I'm checkin' out
I'm signin' off
Don't wanna be the loser and I've had enough

Velexis stole a quick glance at Bartimaus, who was fiddling with the cords. He decided to not tell Kimmy about him. After all, he wasn't doing anything TOO bad…with a smirk, Velexis watched Bartimaus swear profoundly at the cords, and fall flat on his arse. Life was getting better by the second.

Don't wanna be your fool
In this game for two
So I'm leavin' you behind
Bye, bye, bye...

I don't wanna make it tough (wanna make it tough)
But I had enough
And it ain't no lie (Bye, bye baby...)
Bye, Bye
Don't wanna be a fool for you
Just another player in your game for two (I don't wanna be your fool)

Finally, Bartimaus got all three cords unplugged, and watched in satisfaction as, one by one, the electronics turns off. That done, the djinni ran down the hallway, watching the lights dim in the game room.


But it ain't no lie
Baby bye, bye, bye...

Don't really wanna make it tough (don't really wanna make it tough),
I just wanna tell you that I had enough (that I had enough).

Velexis mentally congratulated Bartimaus on his feat. After all, those cords were specially designed for the djinni to NOT pull them out. Kimmy was still singing, apparently wanting to wrap up the song as quickly as possible.

Might sound crazy,
But it ain't no lie,
Bye, bye, bye

"Bravo, Mistress Kimmy!" Velexis politely clapped. Kimmy bowed gracefully, her long purple hair waving behind her. "I have…an idea on how to defeat Barty-hon's pathetic friends." She smiled, her eyes shining in mischief. Velexis grinned and asked "How?" Kimmy laughed, and softly murmured:

"A karaoke contest. Me and you versus Barty-hon and his friends. Whoever wins get's to keep my Hubby. lol"

"…." Velexis' mouth dropped open in surprise.

"…What?" Kimmy asked, poking her "Knight" lightly with her pinky finger.

"It's just…so…PERFECT!" Velexis cheered, and hugged Kimmy in celebration. "Not only will you get Bartim—I mean Barty-hon for good, but we'll have the immense satisfaction of hearing Fart-Quarrel's attempt at singing!" Kimmy smiled. "i know"

Meanwhile…

Bartimaus still couldn't find any way out of his prison. "Crap. Am I going to be stuck here forever!" he yelled at the ceiling. Suddenly, a thought came to him. Hmm…the ceiling? It just might work! The djinni thought with a smile. He thrust his hands upward to the ceiling, and began to recite some words that only he knew. His hands began to glow with a crimson light, as did the rest of his body. With a twisted smirk, Bartimaus yelled "…BY MY WILL, LET THIS DEMAND BE GRANTED!" Closing his eyes, the djinni waited for the result:

BOOM.

A huge chunk of the ceiling came off, and was shot up into the air. With a gleeful cry, Bartimaus leaped out after it, with thoughts of freedom on his mind—only to be met by Velexis a second later. "Whuh—whuh—whuh!" Bartimaus stuttered. Velexis smirked. "You really shouldn't be so…explosive with your getaways. We could hear you all the way back in the game room." Bartimaus suddenly found himself being dragged back towards where he'd came. "No! NO! I'm not going to just stay here like some dog!" he yelled up at Velexis, who was roaring with laughter. However, his words were soon drowned out as the chunk of ceiling was magically restored to it's proper place once more…

Bartimaus: O.O Hey now, that's not fair! I nearly escaped!

Godell: Yeah well, I wanna hear you sing kareoke!

Nathaniel: (is very nervous) Uh...Godell...there's a bit of a problem about your "battle".

Godell: What?

Nathaniel: (blushes) I CAN'T SING!

Godell: ) Well, that just makes it even more fun!

Nathaniel: IT DOES NOT!

Sorry about the delay, but it was worth it! ) R&R please! I'll give you a Bartimaus poster if you do! (waves it around) Isn't it cool?