Changing Its Course
By: shinigami-no-elie
A/N: Special thanks to:
-Square Enix and Disney for releasing KH sequels
-Kubo-sensei for creating BLEACH
-Ochi and Rara. Though we're almost graduated, I hope we can see each other again sobs
-My annoying sister who always asks me the fic
-BestFanOfAnime for her support
-You who reviews
Disclaimer: I do not own KH or Bleach. But I do own my dolls X3.
"Talk"
"Thought"
"Talk" for Ichigo as Sora
"Talk" for Kail
Chapter VII
Lost and Letter…
It's been almost 3 hours since the heartless massive attacks. Sora and Riku were hiding between rocks, searching the right time to some out and run. It seemed like the heartless' don't want to give up finding them just yet.
Riku and Sora had found a perfect place to hide their selves. They found some sort of rock shelters, somewhat like the remaining of an old cavern. Inside, Riku and Sora waited anxiously as each of the heartless' passed their hiding. Every time a group passed, Riku let a sigh. There's no way he can beat the crap out of them…
No, scratch that…
There's no way they can handle them…
Riku was forced to believe the other boy story a few minutes ago and it was not VERY easy for him to believe. Riku only glanced at the other boy, leaning over one of some walls as he put down his giant sword, as if he was a stranger. Clearly, he was Sora.
Yet, He's so not him…
He's not Sora at all.
Sora will be panic by now knowing the situation. But this time, he wasn't panic at all. Instead, he kept his head cool and thinking about their next step.
…And to Riku's belief, Sora had never designed a plan so carefully.
He always rushed everything, and also is slow…
Felling a bit minded by his glance, Sora glanced back at the other boy. It's unreadable. Riku had no idea what is within his deep glance. Sora sighed and took his sword to clean it. Riku sweat dropped.
"So, you're really not Sora…"
Sora, even though seemed to ignore his friend, only shook his head and spoke, "Like I tell you…" he said as he put back his sword. "I'm Ichigo. I'm a shinigami."
Riku was about to speak more when a large group of heartless' and hollows passed their hiding, making the two to hold their breath. Riku silently summon his Way to the Dawn and leapt between rocks to see the group. Sora followed him behind but carelessly made a sound, making the group saw them and chased after them, again. Riku cursed it and jumped, attacking the group. Sora lifted his blade and slain them side by side with Riku.
"No offense about that, but about Seiretei and your friend's connection between, I'll tell you more, later." Sora said as he charged on some Neo-Shadows. "After we slay these…" Riku gave him a curious look. Seiretei, he was told by him firstly, is an afterworld. It isn't connected to any other worlds and only shinigamis and dead people were allowed to go in.
"I'll guess you're the one who has to note that…"
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"That's it!" Saïx barked angrily at the blonde shinigami who was standing on roof. He was exactly furious. "You're not Larxene!"
Larxene only smirked. "How did you find out?"
Saïx pointed his Berserk. "Larxene would never use 7 kunais as a weapon." He said. And he's right. The blonde shinigami only used 7. Maybe for good luck charm. And Larxene never believed in superstition.
The girl, seeming in Larxene's appearance, smirked deviously as she tore her Larxene-mask and revealed her short brown hair. Her kunai had change into a short sword zanpakutou. Her black eyes glanced at the Luna Diviner…joyfully?
"You're smart enough to know that I'm not her…" she said not holding back her smirk. Electricity ran tip-toeing from her finger to another as if holding back to not attack the Luna Diviner. Saïx pointed his berserk and asked rudely, "Who are you?"
The brunette only smirked. "The name's Freya. Though you're not going to live long to remember it…" she said. Saïx gritted his teeth and jumped towards her, trying to land a few death blows. Unfortunately for him, Freya evaded the attack easily as if it's not challenging enough. She seemed to find the right time where Saïx could slip. And then…
She found it…
Saïx was a little careless. The effect of his unsuccessful blows was fatal. Freya used this chance to knock him down with an electric punch, making him paralyzed and fell down. Unable to retaliate, Saïx cursed it and landed roughly on the ground. He flinched as he felt some of his bones broke. Moreover, Freya quickly pinned him down. If Saïx still can use dark portal like old days, he would be gone by now and ambushed her, right there right then.
But he's not in any realm anymore…
Freya smirked in victory as she stood back again. Suddenly, she felt a great reiatsu pressure around. Natsume and his lieutenant had arrived. Seeing them, she drew her weapon back and greeted them.
"Afternoon, Natsume-taichou." She said rather sneeringly. Natsume's expression was unreadable. He stepped forward to see Saïx' condition Mikan, the lieutenant, followed him behind. Saïx would lie there forever if it wasn't for Mikan's help. Mikan helped him to stand. Natsume turned at Mikan and nodded. Seeing him nodded, Mikan nodded as an understatement where she must go. She dashed with her shunpou, leaving Freya and Natsume alone. Natsume quickly turned at the brunette shinigami.
"What happened?" he asked as cold as ever. Freya only gave him a small sigh, though the sneering filled hers. Receiving nothing as answer, Natsume growled and radiated an immense power of reiatsu around him.
"You have to know…. I don't like playing games so tell me what's just happened?" Natsume growled. Freya smirked deviously.
"Keyhole…"
Natsume stopped dead at his spot. Her word was as if making him paralyzed by some hazardous poison. He summoned his zanpakutou and pointed to the brunette. Both rage and reiatsu surrounded him.
"Who the heck are you?" Natsume barked angrily. The brunette smirked more as she opened a green-blackish portal and jumped in. Natsume was going to jump if it isn't for someone's approach. He turned at the approaching person and saw Byakuya walking towards him. Natsume lowered his blade but when he was about to jump, the portal had closed. Natsume gritted his teeth in disappointment.
"A battle, I guess." Byakuya said monotone. Natsume drew back his blade.
"Not exactly." Natsume said matter-of-factly. "Anyway, did you see that portal back then?" He asked the stoic person. Byakuya nodded slowly.
"Better report this to Shikachi. She's good at it." Byakuya stated as he turned his back away and left. Natsume turned at his back angrily.
"Why can't you do it? I'm not going to have a battle against her if she has so many things to do!" Natsume snorted. Byakuya stopped for a moment.
"I have problems in my squad as well. Now, if you excuse me, I have to go." He said back and really left. Natsume tried to calm his self down in order to hold back his will to blow things around him. Feeling well again, he sighed.
"This has to do with the keyholes and the barrier...'
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"So…what is it…again?" Riku panted hard. They had destroyed every heartless and hollow. Fortunately, the sea of heartless was no more so that it could give them some relief. Sora/Ichigo smirked.
"So, you really keep that noted…" he said. "Before I tell you, shouldn't we find some sort of shelter, should we?" Riku grunted but he was right. So then, they managed to find a hiding place. This time, it is safe. Riku and Sora quickly entered the hideout. It's the same as before; a little rock cavern. They managed to sit on the dusty ground.
"So, tell me about your world connection and Sora!" Riku nearly shouted. Sora sighed at his very attitude.
"Our world stands alone as an afterlife. There's no keyhole or anything, means that our world's heart is directly in Kingdom Hearts itself. The only people who can enter the world are dead people and shinigami. Once you're a shinigami, you're able to go out from my world and slay hollows." Sora started. Riku nodded in understatement and Sora went on.
"It's only connected with other worlds through a gate. That gate itself, you can say, has anti-heartless/hollows/nobodies machine, making the mentioned creatures can't go in. However a few years ago, the barrier surrounding our world crumbled. Who did that? I don't have any idea. But this gave opportunities for heartless, nobodies, and hollows to leak in since our world, from their side of view, is full of delicious food. Then, the court decided to make a keyhole even though it's nearly impossible." Riku glared at him disbelievingly.
"Make WHAT!" Riku screamed. Sora quickly silenced him by putting his right hand on Riku's mouth making a soft 'mmff' from the silver-haired teen. Riku shoved his hand. "Okay, I'll be quiet but don't be like that!"
Sora sat again; this time, eyeing on Riku in case he made a sound again. "I know it seems ridiculous and all but they really did it. So, where was I? Oh yeah…"
"When it comes to keyhole, means we have to separate our world's heart from Kingdom Hearts, making it unconnected like any other worlds. Yet, they insisted and sent out a keyblade master and a dark-power wielder to make one. I have to remind you that they're both shinigamis." Sora said again. Riku now watched him carefully. He's in with it. Sora sighed again.
"Well, they made it. But somehow, the keyhole caused an ineffective play of the gate such as protection against beings without hearts. Thus, it made no solution to scram them. By the time they popped more; three shinigamis are banished from my world for their traitor, or rather ran to another world in purpose to conquer Seiretei. That people are also the one who had kidnapped me, you and friend of yours."
"If there's a keyhole, it has to be sealed quickly, or else, the world itself will be in terrible danger. Now that they know this, they want to make a strong heartless to penetrate and take over Seiretei. Is it clear by now?" Seeing Riku nodded, Sora continued again.
"What we need is someone who wields keyblade. From my details, you can guess that there's a keyblade wielder on my world. She is needed to seal the keyblade. Well, she made it half-done."
This time, Riku cast a confused look at the brunette. "Half-done? What do you mean?"
Sora smiled grimly at the boy. "Half-done means it wasn't sealed correctly." This time, Riku stood uneasily.
"How does THAT work!" he said, or nearly shouted it, in confusion. Sora only shook his head.
"I don't know. It just happened. When she sealed it, the keyhole wasn't disappeared. It was only surrounded by some weird dark aura. When she tried it again, nothing happened." Sora ended his long story. Riku half-heartedly believed him.
"What about the keyhole? Maybe it wasn't complete yet?" Riku suggested. Sora shook his head.
"No. It's complete." He denied Riku's suggestion. "Everyone had thought that that would be the problem. But that doesn't"
"Let me get this straight." Riku said and then took a deep breath. "You think that Sora could help you sealing it?" Sora nodded
"That's right." Sora replied. There was an utter silence until the ground shook. The cave itself was about to collapse. Riku, whose reflex is more than Sora's, quickly grabbed the other boy and ran out from their little hiding. Outside the cavern, there stood the same white-haired man who had knocked him back and a group of hollows.
Ichimaru Gin…
"I guess reunion is sweet…" He hissed as he drew his Blade, leaving the two teens fought him side by side; Not the best idea on their mind. Riku gritted his teeth and hissed some curse. He summoned his Way to the Dawn while Sora summoned his blade. They nodded at each other and charged at the white-haired man at the same time.
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"It's not like that, Roxas!"
Naminé was trying hard to teach Roxas how to use Shakkahou. They had been practicing in a field and made no progress. Roxas who should be aiming the target – some pile of junks, always ended up aiming wrong target. Last try, Roxas' aim hit Naminé making her sleeve burnt a bit. Fortunately, she had a water dark art. After that little incident, Naminé decided to put a barrier around her by tugging her Zanpakutou, Hoshinegai.
"It's not as easy as you think!" Roxas retorted. Naminé sighed and realized that the sun is setting. Many things had happened that day. Kagami's injury, Saïx-VS-Larxene battle, and this hopeless training.
"It's evening. I guess we better get to our squad. Let's stop for now…" Naminé said as she drew back her sword. Roxas also drew back his Oathkeeper. He murmured angrily because of his unsuccessful attempt. Naminé blinked at him.
"Err, Roxas?" Naminé asked. Roxas, who's still pissed by his own training, rather ignored the blonde girl. Naminé sighed. "Let's go home, kay? We can try it tomorrow." She said worriedly. This time, he caught her words and slightly turned at her.
"Okay… besides, it's not like me to leave a girl walk home alone." Roxas said. Naminé giggled slightly at his words. Roxas only smiled and accompanied her back to 3rd squad headquarter.
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"He has dark-night curse?" Shikachi's eyebrows twitched hearing her lieutenant's words. Nenke nodded slightly. "Don't be silly. The last one who held on that curse is me and no one else." She said grimly.
"But it's true, and I believe it's the manipulative type." Nenke said again. Shikachi looked at her with dead expression.
"You're joking…"
"I swear I don't make those things…" Nenke replied her Captain's response grimly. Shikachi sighed heavily. She slowly stood up, shocked and angry. Everything mixed up within her expression. Nenke stood by her side worriedly. Shikachi took her white shinigami uniform and wore it. Before she took off, quickly she wrote down something on a paper. "Aoi!"
The said shinigami, Aoikira, somehow showed up quickly as she yelled her name. Aoikira seemed sleepy, but kept her awareness up. "What is it Shikachi?" she asked lazily. Shikachi quickly gave her the letter.
"Inform this to Ukita or Shichi right away! No question!" Shikachi was saying it rather desperately. Didn't want to make her Captain/friend more desperate than she already had, Aoikira nodded slightly and took off with her shunpou. There's a brief silence until Shikachi sighed again.
"You better be right Nenke…" She said darkly as she walked out the office, walking hastily towards the 4th squad headquarter. Nenke followed her unsecured captain.
"And I hope I'm wrong…" Nenke murmured under the violet sky of the evening day.
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"Gee, and I thought that boy had changed."
Axel and Demyx were walking down the road. Demyx was still babbling about Kagami's "order" and that's the part that Axel was bored in.
"Demyx, I get the picture already! And would you please shut up!" Axel screamed at the blonde teen. Demyx quickly became silent all over. He felt like if he spills out another word, he'd be dead by Axel's Chakram. They remained quiet by the rest of their journey. That is, until a group of Heartless' appears out of thin air.
"Great. Just when I want to have tranquility and silence, they're coming out!" Axel barked angrily as he summoned his chakrams. Demyx quickly summoned his sitar. The heartless, as if not having the need to fight them, remained on their place.
Axel took a quick glimpse at the blonde teen next to him. "Demyx?"
The said teen turned slightly at the pyro. "What?"
"Stay off me cause your water ticks the hell out!" he said again. Demyx grunted slightly but moved far enough to satisfy Axel. The moment Demyx moved, the heartless', mostly Neo-Shadows, quickly attacked the two. Axel sliced through them while Demyx, well, since he didn't have any mood to use his water-control ability, he hit them with his sitar. Kinda bad way to settle some scores.
Axel, as if dancing, swung his chakrams here and there, piercing into every heartless on the way, sometimes burnt them. Demyx still hitting the foes with his sitar like some crazy maniacs.
Slaughtering every one of them, Axel drew back his chakrams. So did Demyx. "That's really troublesome…" whined the blonde teen. Axel only shook his head in agreement.
"Can't agree more. Now, let's go before we stumbled on, say, Hitsugaya or Natsume?" Axel said. Demyx, hearing those names, as if froze on his place, leaving Axel to drag him back to his squad. And that is not easy…
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"Here we are!" Naminé yelled happily.
Roxas and Naminé were standing in front of 3rd squad headquarter, which is Naminé's place. She walked passed the gate as for Roxas stayed. She turned at the spike blond and smiled. "Thanks for the day, Roxas!"
Roxas SURELY felt a light blush on his cheek. But he's thankful that it's a bit dark for Naminé to see it. He saw her waving behind the gate and waved back, feeling much more…shy?
Naminé walked into the building, leaving Roxas all alone for now. For some time, he just stood there like an idiotic boy, musing about how he could turn like that. The purplish evening made him snapped out from his thought. He shook his head for a moment and walked to the direction of his squad.
"Sign… where's the sign…" He murmured. The sky darkened slowly, signing almost night. Roxas cursed. He was lost. Where the hell is he now, he had no idea. He walked again for sometimes, only to find crossroad: left, right, or middle. Roxas was getting pissed off.
"Gee, I don't know you're so blind at direction." Kail teased him in his head. Roxas shook his head violently and growled.
"Shut up, Kail!" He growled. Kail shrugged as he left his head. Sensing that he was not bugging him anymore, Roxas sighed. He walked again.
Middle road…
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"Shikachi, slow down!" Nenke growled at her captain. Shikachi stopped and turned at the other woman.
"WE GOTTA HURRY DAMMIT! IF HE HAS THAT CURSE, GOD! HE HAS TO BE SECURED!" Shikachi barked angrily at her lieutenant. Oddly for Nenke, she just stood there silently as if the things which went over the cold night went swift like a wind. No trace on her face, as if Shikachi hadn't barked at her. Instead, she said quietly and flatly.
"Satisfy enough?"
Shikachi growled angrily as she turned her back to her lieutenant. She walked grumpily. Nenke only sighed and followed her Captain. Having a strong-headed person as both your friend and captain is rather troublesome. It needs a hell lot of patience. Fortunately, she has a lot to save it for her own.
Whatever the decision that Shikachi makes, either banishing the boy or killing him steadily or even sealing him, she will stick with it… As for Shikachi, she believes what will she do is right.
Somehow, her faith seemed to slip out…
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"Thanks a lot for helping, Rangiku-san." Axel spoke to the woman in front of him. Finally, they reached 10th headquarter. Demyx was leaning against the gate, waiting his senior.
"Sure thing. Let me know if Demyx…" Rangiku gave a threatening stare at the said shinigami. Demyx only let out a small 'eep'. "…causes you anymore trouble. Just because he quickly gained his seat doesn't mean he has to drag everyone onto his problem."
"Nope, not at all." Axel lied. He didn't know why he did that but that really made Demyx turned into chibi mode with chibi tears, grateful of what Axel did. Axel only ignored him and went off from the 10th headquarters.
He walked through the road. Seiretei is full of complicated routes. That's why he hated it more than anything he could find in that stupid afterlife. Well, at least he's not sent to Hades' place after dead. That place surely gives him the creeps.
Axel walked steadily. He kept his guard up as if someone would show up and beat the shit out of him, though he's completely sure that he'd not be the one who get it out. Anything could happen in the night of Seiretei.
Anything could happen…
Axel stopped in front of a crossroad; he heard someone walked towards his place. Quickly but silently, he summoned his chakrams from both of his hand. He sneaked against the wall, readying his self to charge at the approaching person.
The steps went closer as he gripped his chakrams tighter. Though he had been in such a situation before, Axel couldn't help sweating from his own panic. The person still approaching. Axel decided to charge at the person right then.
Axel turned to the person and swung his chakrams. His weapons were clashing against a keyblade.
White Keyblade….
Axel looked at the wielder. Messy-spike-blond-haired kid with a keyblade on his hand defended his self from Axel's assault. Axel only blinked for a few moments. "Roxas?" he said bewildered as he drew back his weapons.
Roxas, whose reflex, thankfully, is high enough to react against Axel's sudden attack, sighed heavily. He knew he had sensed something, but he never guessed it would be Axel's. He drew back his Oathkeeper. Silence for a moment until Roxas broke it.
"What's with you drawing your weapons like that? You're scaring the hell out of me!" Roxas barked. Axel sighed from his bark.
"Can't help it. The number of heartless has become more and more." He said as he passed Roxas and stopped at the third step. He turned slightly to Roxas. "Moreover, there's an issue about an intruder breaking into this place. You can't expect me not to draw my weapon when I heard someone suspicious was approaching."
"Oh." Roxas only replied his words. Axel only sighed.
"Anyway Roxas, what're you doing out here. It's pretty dangerous here when it was night." Axel asked again. Roxas glared at him a bit offended. Axel blinked at his sudden reaction. "What?"
"Since when I've become a vulnerable kid who can't protect his self? I'm not a girlish person who would scream like 'oh, help me! My shoe stuck on a tree'." Roxas scowled. Axel was trying not to laugh from his statement but failed. Roxas was about to dictate him but joined him laughing. Axel stopped laughing and then, with a serious look, asked again.
"What're you doing here?"
Roxas finally stopped laughing and calmed down. "Oh right. I want to go back to my squad, but…"
Silence. Roxas blushed a little. How should he put this?
"You're lost." Axel finished his sentence. Roxas looked embarrassed. Axel only shook his head disbelievingly. "Roxas, Roxas…" this time, Roxas shot a glare at him.
"Fine, I'm going to take you back to your squad." Axel scowled. Roxas grinned widely. Axel walked and he followed.
"Why do I always get myself dragged into trouble?" Axel murmured softly; softly enough for Roxas not to hear.
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Naminé walked inside her room. It's neat and clean, just like when she left it that morning. Her eyes felt so heavy, as if she could collapse anytime. Still, being a neat person, she walked towards her bathroom and took a shower. The training with Roxas was really exhausting; stood on her spot with boredom lingering; watching Roxas falsely aimed the target while his false aim hit her. Fortunately, she didn't take any damage of it.
Feeling better, she brushed her teeth and got dressed. When she was about to jump onto her bed, someone knocked her door. She turned at the door, rather annoyed.
"Who'll be visiting in the times like this?" she growled softly. She opened the door, seeing her vice-captain stood there. Naminé seemed a bit surprise.
"Good evening, Naminé. I hope my little visit doesn't bother you." Shichi said politely, which is, unlikely of her. Naminé became stunned by her sudden 'polite' manner. Shichi, for she knew even for a few days, was very strict, diligent, and rough. She wouldn't be surprised if her Captain can't get a hold of her. Naminé snapped out from her thoughts and greeted her back.
"No ma'am, Not at all!" she said, though her surprised tone still lingered inside. "Please do come in!" Shichi nodded, went into her room and took the nearest seat. Naminé closed the door and walked towards the kitchen. She was making two cups of green tea. After doing it, she joined her vice captain and offered her the tea. Shichi smiled and took the offer.
"Thank you." She said brightly, making the blond blinked out of surprise. Shichi, being like a lady! So not like her! Snapping out from her stunt thought and took a seat. Both of them sipped their tea. Shichi sighed in comfort. Naminé stared at her and spoke again.
"What is it ma'am? Is there anything you would like to talk with me?" Naminé asked her lieutenant. Shichi put down her tea and began to answer her question.
"I know I'm so straight-forwarded, but order is still order…" she sighed and took out an envelope. She handed it over to Naminé, who looked hesitantly-to-open-the-envelope. "Go on, open it. It just came out from Ukita. The news had just arrived from 14th squad."
Naminé, being afraid of what she might know, hesitantly opened the envelope; 2 pieces of paper, one with Ukita-taichou's signature and the other with a fussy writing. Whoever wrote this was really in haste. She scanned the contents slowly. First, she read the first fussy writing and couldn't help to have trouble in understanding them. She rubbed her head. Shichi understood her motion though. She sipped her tea again.
"Why don't you read Ukita's first." She said. Naminé nodded quietly and read the signed letter. Her eyes stopped and went big. She shot a stunned glare at her senior. He stood up, making the table in front of her shook.
"Ma'am! Isn't it a bit hasty to move the mission date! We're not prepared yet! Kagami hasn't recovered while I and Roxas are still freshmen!" Naminé cried. Shichi sighed again, but this time, was colder than ever.
"An order is still an order. And this one is recommended by Shikachi herself. This letter…" she said as she picked up the fussy-writing letter and showed her. "…is her message from a while ago." She then put it on the table.
Naminé still shocked from this impact. She sat down again, trying to calm herself. Shichi, seeing that she needed to leave because the night had came, put her tea on the table and said her good-bye.
"I guess I'll be leaving. Thanks for the tea again, Naminé." She said. Naminé stared at her for a while. Receiving only a simple stare, Shichi bowed a little even though it would be a bit weird. Never a senior bows to his or her junior. She opened the door and stepped off her room. Naminé couldn't believe it. She and Roxas had only been there for a couple of days and were given not only a big opportunity but also a big responsibility as well. She leaned against her seat and read Ukita's letter. Only the content that made her as if out of breath.
The 14th squad hadn't received any information of Sora and Riku's condition. While their friends had been spotted on their home world, all in erased memories. Someone must have eradicated their memories from the recent events. Because of this tight situation, as the captain of 3rd squad, I commanded you to search as many clues about this situation as you can. You can take 3 – 5 people to become your aid. Don't miss a spot; the tiniest spot sometimes leads to brighter clues. The mission started Friday this week.
Ukita
N/B: I know I'm not permitted to confirm this, but I wish that you take the elite force to investigate immediately. And also, maybe this will be your next lesson. Do it well and make me proud.
On the table, lied Shikachi's message:
For the elite team, quickly prepare yourself. Your mission will be started sooner than you think. For the date confirmation, Ukita will decide it. The details are in Ukita's letter.
Shikachi
Naminé sighed again. She leapt to her bed and laid there still. "Friday… it's just the day after tomorrow…" She murmured as her eyes went to the calendar.
Wednesday, 12 July….
Naminé growled softly. Her eyes felt so heavy that she could sleep right there right then. But then again, her bad feeling about this mission was bugging her, making her couldn't sleep. As time flowed, Naminé ensured herself again and fell asleep.
The next lesson should not be so easy…
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Bwahahaaa! After a long time, I finally showed up and whoops! A chappy! YAY! 'm so happy!
Anyway, do review or else I'll throw my stuff animals at you! evil smirk and preparing the stuff animals
Till next time, R&R!