Disclaimer: I shall bawl over the fact that I do not own Kingdom Hearts at all.

A/N: Yay, I get to update before Christmas! Just consider this as an early Christmas present from me to you readers. xD Anyway, I am now officially on vacation from high school. So I'll be working hard on my fanfic. And it may not seem like it, but Intertwined Destinies is drawing closer to its ending. Aww. Oh, and by the way, I might be changing my pen name soon so that it has my real name, 'Bianca,' in it. (: I think I'm beginning to outgrow Little Bo Binki, haha.

xoxo Bianca.

Intertwined Destinies

Chapter Twenty-One.

Alexandra stood in silence for a moment or two before turning around and walking in the opposite direction. She shuddered, closing her eyes. She felt as though something were pricking her—like something was wrong. There was nothing wrong, and she reminded herself that. Alexandra felt a shiver crawl down her spine, and shook her head.

No, nothing was wrong.

"Ninety-nine, ninety-eight, ninety-seven..." Alexandra rubbed her hands up and down her arms. It was getting terribly cold. Why? "Ninety-six..." Her voice was faltering, and she was not even through with ten numbers. She kept counting, though under her breath.

She closed her eyes. "Eighty..."

Suddenly, Alexandra felt as though icicles were drilling into her bones.

"Sixty... fifty-nine..."

She gasped sharply and ran, barely audible to even herself.

"Thirty-seven..." Alexandra gulped. The only thing she heard was her feet pounding upon the fresh, rain forest ground. "Twenty—"

Alexandra slammed right into Riku. He caught her before she collapsed. Alexandra shut her eyes and panted, as if she were equivalent to a suffocating child. She seemed as though she had just come up from a deep dive into a frosty, bitter ocean.

"Alexandra! Alexandra—" They were on the ground now. Riku grasped the sides of her arms and shook her gently. She wouldn't move to her own accord. Her breathing was irregular. "Alexandra... what's wrong?"

Riku felt her blanched, delicate cheek. She was so cold.

Slowly, very slowly, Alexandra opened her eyes. She looked up at Riku, who was cradling her in his arms, and her eyes widened scarcely. She clenched her teeth, feeling nothing but ice.

"Where'd you go?" questioned Riku, pushing Alexandra's hair from her forehead, letting it fall back. "Why are you..."

"I am cold," she whispered, barely moving her mouth.

"I know, I know," Riku said in a gentle, soft voice. "Let me take you somewhere warmer—"

"No," Alexandra cut him off even in the low volume of her voice. "I mean... that I am cold."

"But I know that, Alexandra. We need to get you to the sun—"

"No, Riku. You do not understand."

"What do you mean? I understand fully. You're cold, and you need to get warm."

Alexandra's eyes were gleaming. "No—do you not see, Riku? I am cold blooded... I cannot feel the sun! I cannot feel anything! I can only feel the cold!" Alexandra struggled to stand, but fell weakly. "I... cannot..."

Riku helped support her. He tried to help her regain her balance. When they were both standing, Riku asked in a concerned tone, "What's wrong?"

Alexandra pursed her lips silently, shaking her head from side to side.

"Why can't you tell me?"

When Alexandra breathed, the oxygen that flowed through her lungs nipped at her. "It would interfere with my..."

"Your plans?" Riku's eyes suddenly filled with dissatisfaction. "Alexandra... I thought you wanted to be your own person! You don't need to listen to whoever's controlling you, whoever's telling you of their plans. It's not your plan. I thought you... I thought you wanted to be happy."

"I am not so sure anymore," Alexandra murmured, closing her eyes.

Riku reached out. "Alexandra..."

Alexandra lowered her head. "Please, do me a favor."

"What...?"

"Whatever happens, come what may—Riku, do not get too attached to me."

Riku was taken aback. But he didn't let his guard down. He shook his head. "What if I can't help it?"

Alexandra looked up. What did he just say? "Riku, you must not..."

"Why?" Riku asked, almost demanding. "What would happen if I got attached to you?"

Alexandra could not, would not believe the words she was hearing. It almost sounded like... as if... it seemed as though...

Riku cared?

Alexandra swallowed dryly. "Why must you be this way?"

"I'm not going to let you shove me aside, Alexandra! You're so cold—you need to get warm. You need help; you need someone to warm you. You don't have anyone to warm you—that's why I'm here."

Alexandra backed away. "I do not need you—"

Riku stepped towards her. "How do you know, Alexandra? You're very intelligent, I know, but there are some things that you can't understand unless you're warm. What's up? Back at Traverse Town, you were able to smile. I saw even the slightest bit of happiness back there. But when we come here, you're all emotionless again. Alexandra, I want to help you."

Alexandra said nothing. She stared at Riku with wide eyes. So... cold...

"Alexandra, please... speak to me. Look at you—you're shivering."

Alexandra's head began to muddle up.

Are you in doubt with your plans?

No, Master. Does it seem so?

... Remember what I forbade you to do.

Yes. It is... forbidden.

I know you will find a legitimate way to take care of them.

I will do so, as you wish.

Do not fail me, Alexandra.

Alexandra's eyes glazed over.

Riku's left hand found its way to Alexandra's right shoulder. "Alexandra? Say something!"

Alexandra snapped out of her trance, her eyes flashing, and then gazed towards Riku. She seemed to have been holding her breath. All at once, she exhaled heavily, her eyes closed, and she fell limp.

But Riku caught her.

Kairi looked out the window. The sun was slowly lowering. Slowly, like it was taking its sweet time disappearing behind all the trees. It graced the sky with fruitful colors, brightly iridescent. She lowered her gaze and sighed. She heard someone approach behind her.

"What's wrong?" said a voice, almost teasingly.

Kairi turned around and gently socked Sora in the stomach.

"What makes you think something's wrong?" Kairi implied indignantly. The fact that she was now his girlfriend didn't mean that she had to swoon over him all the time. Nothing much had changed between them, and for some reason they were glad about that.

Sora shrugged. "It's just, you look pretty down."

Kairi faced the window once more. "Sora... we just... we left Trinity there... and all the other townspeople... by themselves. And Merlin... we don't even know what he's going to do to them. He nearly killed us with those flames... but we need to get Trinity and the others to safety..."

"I know." Sora stood at her right side, taking her hand. "I know, Kairi, but—"

"But what, Sora? Look." With her free hand, Kairi gestured to the breathtaking view outside of the window. "Can't you see? We're here, in a beautiful world, practically enjoying ourselves... while poor Trinity is still in that dimension... unconscious... with Merlin."

"Merlin can't—"

"Can't what?" Kairi closed her eyes. "Can't hurt us? Don't you remember, Sora? He's a terribly powerful wizard. He can teleport, he has magic that he can abuse, for all the wrong reasons. He lied, when he said he couldn't escape that place. He was following me, and making me feel drowsy and everything. It was a horrible feeling. What... what if he teleports here? I don't want to feel that way anymore, Sora—it hurts, and I hate it. What if—"

"Kairi," Sora's soft voice cut her off. "Kairi, look at me."

Kairi exhaled gingerly and opened her eyes, turning her gaze towards Sora.

"I won't let Merlin hurt you again. That's a promise." Sora somewhat smiled. "And speaking of promises..."

Sora let go of Kairi's hand, turned around, and walked across the room. He picked up his Keyblade, and then returned to Kairi's side. Sora reached down and lifted up the Oathkeeper. The charm caught the light and twinkled bewitchingly.

Sora's eyes lifted from the Oathkeeper to meet Kairi's. "I thought you'd might want this back, considering that I promised that I'd return it to you."

That caused Kairi to remember something. "How did you get the Keyblade back? Trinity told me that you had lost it."

"I guess I was taken to Traverse Town without it, and it was left with Donald and Goofy. They returned it to me when we met again."

Kairi was silent for a minute, maybe even two. Her eyes, filled with an inexplicable emotion, fell to the Oathkeeper. She stared at the glistening trinket in quietness. Gradually, her lips curved into a small smile. Sora handed her the Oathkeeper, but then Kairi shook her head and placed it upon his fingers once more.

"No. Not now. I want you to keep it—at least, for a little while longer. That is, you can return it to me when we're all safe. Technically, we're sort of safe now, but I mean... back-at-Destiny-Islands-safe. Once we're back home, once we're able to run along the ocean shore... only then, that's when you can give it back. But until then, keep it with you." Kairi blinked once, her eyes averting.

Sora looked at the charm resting on his hand, and then at Kairi. He seemed to hesitate. "Are you sure?"

"Of course, silly."

They smiled at each other.

Riku burst into the cottage, carrying Alexandra in his arms. Kairi and Sora turned to him, both with equally alarmed looks on their faces.

"What happened?" asked Sora, seeing no movement whatsoever from Alexandra. If possible, she looked paler than ever.

Riku bit his lower lip. "She's so cold." Then, urgently, he brushed past them and carefully placed her upon the set of blankets. He did it serenely and graciously, as to not disturb her in any way. He pulled a wool blanket over her faint frame. She looked seemingly bleached... a very worrisome sight, in fact.

Riku knelt next to her and sighed quietly.

Kairi and Sora stared. Never before had they seen their prodigiously masculine friend act so tender towards someone.

Riku's hands were clenched into fists. He did not remove his eyes from Alexandra. "Kairi, can you please run some hot water?"

Kairi nodded. "Yeah—of course."

Alexandra awoke to a wet cloth being pressed upon her forehead. It almost felt... warm. She seemed to be covered in her thickest blanket. Alexandra could nearly feel the heat; perhaps just slightly, but she knew it was there.

Someone was giving her warmth...?

Her vision cleared. Her eyes shifted around the room. The only one there was Riku, who was sitting at her side. When he noticed she had awakened, Riku looked painstakingly relieved. He began to smile, but stopped himself.

"Riku..." Alexandra looked away.

Riku stared. "Alexandra... you can't keep pushing me away."

"I can try."

"I'll keep coming back."

"Why must you act like this?"

"I'm not acting. This is how I feel."

"What do you mean?" Deep inside herself, Alexandra felt instant confusion. "What are you feeling?"

Riku seemed to edge closer to Alexandra, not that she could tell. "I'm not entirely sure, Alexandra, but I have never felt this way before."

"I have never felt."

"I know." Riku reached over, and with a single finger, tilted Alexandra's chin so that her eyes met his. "But that doesn't mean you can't."

"What if I refuse to feel?"

Riku shook his head. "Don't lie to me now, Alexandra. I know there's something within you that wants to feel. Maybe wanting to feel the way I'm feeling."

"You do not know me." Alexandra's eyes lowered, gazing at the fabric draped around her. She started to get up, but Riku stopped her.

"Please," Riku said, keeping a hand on her arm to stop her from standing. "I won't talk about this anymore, but—what's been happening to you lately, Alexandra? I know you know how to smile. You've barely smiled since we arrived here, in this forest. I saw some happiness in Traverse Town, but now you're back to being coldhearted. What's wrong? I just want to know—I'm worried about you, and people think I never get worried."

Alexandra's eyes locked with Riku's. She swallowed hard. Her voice seemed distant and vague, "I do not... want her to see..."

Her mind throbbed. Why am I saying this?

Riku's eyebrows rose. "Who? Who's her?"

Alexandra shut her eyes closed and shook her head, refusing to say any more.

"The one who's been giving you orders? Who is she?"

Alexandra was silent.

"You don't want her to see you smile, or laugh? Or show any feeling?"

She still said nothing.

"Because she'll get angry? Will she punish you?"

No reply.

"Is it because your emotions would get in the way of your duty?"

No answer.

"Your job is more than finding Trinity's brother, isn't it?"

Still no answer.

"What else is your job, Alexandra? What were you told to do? What did she do to your emotions? I know for a fact you have developed feelings inside of you, but she did something to them, didn't she?"

Alexandra's eyes opened.

"She did, didn't she?"

Alexandra's mouth seemed stubbornly clamped tight shut.

Riku stood up. "I'm going to get your emotions back, Alexandra, I—"

Alexandra reached out, her eyes widening. She could not hold in her words any longer. "No, Riku—you cannot, you will get hurt—she will—"

"I don't care if I get hurt, you're freezing! I can't just stand here and watch you shiver like that."

"You do not know who she is—"

"I'm going to find out."

"You have done enough already, Riku!" Alexandra struggled to bring herself up, her hands slipping against the wall. "She was angered the first time—when you named me—but she decided to keep the name anyway—even so, we should not risk it—I do not need my emotions—"

"Yes, you do." Riku shook his head slowly. "You need them as much as you need me."

"No..." Alexandra dropped back into the blankets, temporarily giving up on her attempt to stand up. "I do not understand you."

"That's why you need your emotions. And that's why I'm going to get them back for you. Then maybe you'll understand how I feel about you."

Sora tossed a slice of peeled orange into the air. He lifted his head and it plopped into his mouth.

"You can choke like that," commented Kairi, glancing at him. She then laughed and threw her own slice of orange into the air, catching it in her mouth.

"What a hypocrite!" Sora teased, looking at Kairi, who was sitting next to him on the grass.

Kairi smirked and pushed Sora playfully, causing him to fall to his side and tumble in the other direction some. Sora got up and tossed an orange slice towards Kairi, but she ducked. As soon as Kairi began her gloating about her "dodging skills," an orange peel was chucked in her direction—this time landing in her hair. Disgusted, Kairi did two things: flicked the peel off her head, and then tackled Sora.

"Umph!" Sora was pinned. "Hey, let me go!"

Kairi giggled. "Not until you beg for mercy."

"Heck no!"

"I'll tickle you."

"You better not!"

"You're under my possession." Kairi grinned. Sora wasn't much surprised over the fact that Kairi had a good, strong hold. She was far from frail. Sora wriggled—not that it helped.

Sora opened his mouth to protest but something interrupted him. Seemingly from above, a loud rumble followed by a crashing noise sounded. The air seemed to vibrate.

Kairi released Sora, though she did not move from their close position. With her eyes wide, she whispered, "What was that?"

Sora took Kairi's arm and the both of them stood up. He shook his head, noticing that the sky had suddenly darkened. "I don't know." He gripped the Keyblade's handle in his other hand.

All the fun seemed to seep away, and another growl emitted from above, much like a roll of thunder. The couple both felt a wintry, chilly wave rush through them.

"Did you feel that?" asked Kairi, her skin prickling.

"Yeah," Sora replied, looking up. Without moving his eyes or his head, he said, "Kairi, get in the cottage."

"What?" Kairi raised her eyebrows. "Without you?"

"I'll follow you."

"Oh, please. I can't believe you. I'm not going anywhere."

Sora turned to face Kairi. "I knew you'd say that."

Kairi's eyes narrowed and looked as though she were about to shoot a comeback at him, but something light and wet fell against her face. Water, a drop of water... and then another, and another. Sora felt it, too. They looked up, and saw resplendent raindrops plummeting upon them.

It was raining.

Alexandra sat in silence. Her head lifted by the slightest, and her eyes shifted towards Riku—who was sitting at the other side of the room. She felt something far down within herself. She did not know what it was, but then she heard it.

The rumbles from above.

Alexandra gasped and quickly shuffled out of the blankets, stumbling towards the nearest window. Her hands clenched at the windowpane and she gazed in mute awe at was what happening outside. Water, lots of water, was pouring by fat drops from the sky.

What exactly was happening...?

"It's rain," explained Riku, who was now at Alexandra's side. "It's raining... in your heart."

Alexandra blinked. Raining? So this... all this water, was rain?

"Why here?" whispered Alexandra, finally recapturing her voice, her eyes widening. "Why now?"

"Alexandra," Riku's icy eyes looked up at the sullen sky, "have you ever cried?"

"It's just a storm," breathed Sora, pulling on his hood. His fingers left Kairi's arm and found her hand, and soon their shoes were slapping against the sloshed ground as they made their way towards the cottage.

A few feet away, Donald and Goofy ran to the house as well. Toshi was behind them, grumbling and complaining under his breath about how he'll never be able to get a tan now.

Sora, Kairi, Donald, Goofy, and Toshi were all a drenched and dank mess when they entered Alexandra's house.

"I didn't know it could rain in a heart," muttered Toshi, looking ruefully out of the window at the water that pelted the ground.

"D'oh, apparently, it can," Goofy stated, pointing out the obvious.

Kairi shook her head, sending light sprays of water trickling in everyone's direction. Sora's hood dropped down to his shoulder blades once more. Everyone looked at Alexandra—practically frozen and staring blankly out of the window. Riku was looking at her, his eyes filled with worry. Suddenly, Alexandra's hands dropped from the windowpane to her lap, and at the same time Riku reached out and touched her shoulder. As soon as Riku touched her, a deafening clangor from the sky somewhat shook the small cottage.

"No," Alexandra murmured.

"What?" Riku asked, not quite understanding her one-worded statement.

"No," Alexandra repeated. "I have never cried, Riku. Not out of grief, not out of joy. I am not to feel those emotions."

Riku was silent for a few moments, and so was everyone else. Then, Riku turned to his group of staring companions.

"You guys," Riku said, glancing out of the window at the brewing storm before averting his gaze back towards them, "what do you think about when you see the rain?"

"Toilets," Toshi remarked, earning a few querulous glares.

"Waterfalls," offered Donald, ruffling his wet feathers in an attempt to dry them.

"'Hyuck, dripping faucets."

"Clouds," Sora said. He was eyeing the ashen gray clouds that heavily blossomed the pellets of rain.

All eyes turned expectantly to the one who had not given an answer yet.

Kairi was looking at the droplets of water twinkling and smearing against the window glass. "Tears."

Now every eye was on Alexandra. Her yellow eye was as dull as ever, while her green one twinkled emptily. "I shall get you all some towels," Alexandra finally said under her breath, and then departed from the room.

Riku slumped his back against the wall.

"Riku," Kairi smiled, though it was hardly noticeable, "you'll get through to her."

Riku's face showed nothing of his disappointment, or guilt. He still had that tranquil sort of look, but his best friends easily saw past that.

"Don't worry," chipped in Sora. "Alexandra will warm up to you."

Riku eyed the door from which Alexandra left through. "If only I had the ability to get her warm."

Outside, rain hammered at the ground.

Donald and Goofy were dozing in the corner. Goofy had his towel blanketed over his head, no one knew why but it was a matter not to be dwelled upon. Riku was by himself, silently contemplating over an unknown subject as he looked fixedly outside the moist window that was beginning to fog at the edges.

Kairi and Sora stared agape at Toshi, for he looked as though he was currently seeing into the future. When Toshi's eyes slowly reopened and he regained his normal breathing pace, the couple obviously wanted to know every little detail of what he saw.

But then they noticed his worried and anxious facial expression.

"What?" Kairi asked, her eyes getting a little wide. "What's going to happen?"

"It's bad, isn't it?" Sora's voice was disdainful.

Toshi shook his head and turned away. "Eh, it's nothing. Really."

"Really?" echoed Kairi, very much unsatisfied. "Doubt it."

"Tell us. Please, we really want to know," urged Sora.

Kairi and Sora tried not to be too pushy—because they knew how hard it was for Toshi to be psychic—but at the same time they tried to convince Toshi that if it were vital and worrisome information, it'd help if they were told about it.

Toshi stalled. He pointed to the window. "Hey, the rain is sort of cooling down a bit."

He earned two equally stern glares.

"Oh, God." Toshi rolled his eyes and stood up. "Believe me... it's nothing. Just, look out for yourselves, okay?"

Kairi blinked. "And what is that supposed to mean?"

Toshi shrugged. "My vision was sorta unclear, anyway. Don't worry about it."

Sora sighed in aggravation. "How can we not worry about it when we don't even know about it?"

"You can't just hide something from us," Kairi added.

Toshi turned around so that his back was facing Kairi and Sora. "Why not? It's not like you two are hiding something from each other." Toshi's eyebrows rose, and he turned around again to face the wide-eyed couple.

There was a thick silence, as Kairi and Sora knew how true Toshi was.

"I knew it. You guys haven't told each other." Toshi's eyes diverted to the ground next to them, rather than at them. "But I suggest you fess up soon—before it's too late."

"Too late for what?" Kairi asked softly, although suddenly distracted by Toshi's previous statement.

"You people ask too many questions," Toshi snapped in irritability. He then calmed down, and turned to walk away. But before he did, he said lowly, "And just as a friendly suggestion, Kairi—I wouldn't drink anything for a while if I were you, just so you know."

Kairi's mouth fell open. She wanted to ask him why not, but she couldn't for three reasons: she had momentarily lost her voice, she didn't want to annoy Toshi with any more questions, and their little psychic buddy had just wandered away.

And the worst thing was that Kairi suddenly felt terribly thirsty.

"I can't figure it," Sora muttered, and Kairi looked at him.

I knew it. You guys haven't told each other. But I suggest you fess up soon—before it's too late.

Their eyes locked and they suddenly knew what Toshi meant. They were sitting on the ground, against the wall in lulling quietude. They only heard the softening rain pitter-pattering against the soil and grass outside, but then again their hearts were beginning to fasten pace. Kairi felt her heart thumping against her chest and swallowed, losing her breath for a moment.

Sora bit his lower lip. "Kairi... I..." His voice faltered. His fingers felt numb. He could no longer hear the rain. The only thing audible was his heartbeat pounding in his ears.

Kairi broke her gaze from Sora's and looked downwards. She reached for Sora's hand and held it. She could have sworn that at that very moment, when she lifted her eyes to meet Sora's again, they both flushed several shades of pink. Before it's too late?

Kairi felt her mouth dry up, adding to her crave for a drink. Though she did not ponder much about hydrating herself at the moment, for she noticed something reflecting in the deep turquoise ocean of Sora's eyes.

He had to tell her something, and she had to tell him something as well.

"Kairi..." Sora mumbled suddenly, as if trying to pick up where he had left off. His hand holding Kairi's tightened warmly. "I guess Toshi's right. I guess... I guess I never really had the chance to tell you..." He stopped. Both their hearts stopped for a split second.

Sora continued, leaving his previous sentence open-ended. "You saw what I added to the picture of us in the Secret Place... didn't you?"

Kairi nodded slowly.

Sora swallowed. "And in the Stained Glass Realm—you did the same thing, too...?"

"Yes," Kairi whispered, trying to deplete any tremors from her voice. "Sora, I..."

"So what I'm trying to say is that... the way I feel about you..." Sora paused, and looked the other way. He tried to breathe but was unable to. His eyelids lowered. He heard Toshi's words replay.

Fess up.

With a deep breath, Sora quickly turned back to Kairi. "Listen, Kairi, I lo—"

"Excuse me," Alexandra appeared in the doorway. She ran her bare foot across the wooden floor. Her eyes were affixed on her clasped hands. "Kairi, may I see you in the kitchen for a moment?"

Kairi's mouth was partly open. She blinked, shut her mouth, and shook her head. "Huh? Oh, yeah, sure." She let go of Sora's hand and stood up, walking over to Alexandra. She turned around to look at a crestfallen Sora and said, "Uh—I'll be back."

Alexandra and Kairi disappeared into the kitchen.

"Stupid," Sora scolded himself, thumping the back of his head against the wall. "Stupid. Stupid. Stupid me."

After a while, Toshi appeared at Sora's side, looking tired. "Hey, I can hear you inflicting pain upon yourself from the other side of the room." He snorted. "Trying to give yourself a concussion?"

"No," Sora said, stopping his head from banging against the wall for a moment. "But something like it." He groaned and closed his eyes. "Why? Why can't I say it?"

Toshi shrugged, taking a seat next to the one he was identical to. "Probably because you mean it so much."

"That doesn't make any sense!" Sora huffed. "When did you get so smart?"

"You learn a lot from seeing into the future."

"You're capable of learning?"

"Haha. What a hoot. How witty of you." Toshi stopped himself. "So where'd Kairi go? Couldn't take the drama and fled?"

"No," retorted Sora. He gestured towards the doorway to the next room. "She went into the kitchen with Alexandra."

Toshi froze. "She what?"

"She went into—"

"I know, I know." Toshi looked the opposite way. "Never mind."

Sora gave Toshi a sideward glance. "Would that be a bad thing? Because if it is, I'm going in there and—"

"No." Toshi interjected. "Just... let's just hope she takes my advice."

Sora fell silent.

"Because if she doesn't, she might not come back, and if she doesn't come back, you won't be able to tell her that you love her."

Alexandra had the loveliest set of china, and Kairi enjoyed the way the little crystal and porcelain cups sparkled when they caught the light. Alexandra was mercurially swift as she held the large teapot in both her hands and poured a dark, sanguine scarlet sort of liquid into a tiny teacup. Miniature clouds of steam arose from the liquid. Kairi's eyes locked against the divine tea, genuinely mesmerized, and she was practically overjoyed when Alexandra pushed the cup towards her.

"I made you some tea," Alexandra said softly, her eyes not looking directly at Kairi. Alexandra held her own left hand in her own right hand, squeezing every now and then.

Kairi wet her lips, her vision blurring a little.

"It's my own recipe," Alexandra continued, as if she were a saleswoman and pressing Kairi to buy the product she was offering. "The tea is eminently sweet, and the ingredients can only be found here, in this rain forest. My heart."

Kairi felt lightheaded, seeing nothing but the scintillating teacup with its lurid vermeil content, and hearing nothing but Alexandra's soothing yet monotone voice.

"But do you know what would make the tea taste so much better?" Alexandra asked, not expecting an answer, and she did not receive one. Alexandra reached forward with a single pale finger, hovering it above the mouth of the teacup. In her other hand, Alexandra held a thin blade, and she ran the pointed edge of the blade against the very tip of her finger around to her cuticle.

"Heartless blood," Alexandra whispered, letting a tiny pearl of amethyst fluid cascade upon the tea and disappear within its charming depths.

Kairi shook her head, feeling as though she were in a trance. Her eyes were tinged with a captivated, spellbound emotion. In her mind, she knew that this was wrong. Somehow, it was just wrong... but why? Kairi sought back into her mind, trying to remember why.

And just as a friendly suggestion, Kairi—

Kairi's eyes squinted. There was more to it. But... she couldn't recall. She looked up to see Alexandra. Alexandra did not meet her eyes, but Kairi could slightly sense an enigmatical aura about her. Who was she kidding? That aura was always there. But now, it looked as though Alexandra was keeping an even weightier secret...

—I wouldn't drink anything for a while if I were you, just so you know.

The line echoed in her mind. That was it. Kairi's heart sank. Why couldn't she drink anything for a while, especially if she was sitting in front of the most adorable teacup with the most charming looking tea?

Then Kairi laughed. She actually laughed. For what reason, she did not really know why, but she had the sudden urge to let out a silly giggle, as if she had gone absolutely drunk without being within a thousand feet of alcohol. At once, it came to her, that she had laughed because... because it was not like Alexandra was trying to poison her!

Now that was a laughing matter.

Alexandra raised an eyebrow, now looking at Kairi, who had regained a solemn attitude. "You may try it, if you desire to..."

Alexandra felt remorse slowly gravitating towards her, but she felt that emotionless veil act as a shield towards any feeling of guilt, or any feeling at all.

She had her orders.

I know you will find a legitimate way to take care of them.

She had orders, orders that were meant to be obeyed.

Because she herself was meant for destruction.

I will do so, as you wish.

Do not fail me, Alexandra.

"I shan't fail you," Alexandra whispered so lightly that Kairi could not hear.

Kairi reached out with both her hands, slowly, her fingers capturing the cup. She smiled faintly at how wonderful the glossy porcelain felt at her skin, and lifted the cup closer towards her face. Kairi at once inhaled the sweet fragrance of the warm tea, as if it were perfumed with candied roses. The billowing puffs of steam hugged at her soft facial features.

She brought it to her lips and took a sip.

Kairi held the cup at her mouth for a while before lowering it a fraction. She began to feel rather drowsy, but the tea... the tea tasted oh, so lusciously delicious.

"Thank you," murmured Kairi, her eyelids feeling heavier as everything around her blurred. She still gripped at the teacup.

Alexandra turned away. She still felt no sense of remorse. It was meant to be, anyhow. "You are most welcome, Kairi."

SPECIAL THANKS TO...

Sweet Raine, KairiGurlPaupo, carbuncle X3, sorakairi forever, kingdom219, Sora's GuardianAngel, Heavenly Demon, 3xodus, Haro-Haro, thesrazrbladekisses, daaku, Inuyasha-Fan012, Iridaceae, Ravey13, Mysterious Prophetess, Sorasgirl333, Kyotohruyuki, Shirozora, Sakura Kamiya101, 3viLBunni, BattleAngelKurumi, & Cherdafred.

Happy Holidays. (: