A.N. Special thanks to. . . painextremus, warning live without warning, Rahh Gumba Foo, Mr.Girl (XD, I love your name), FlamesofAnubis, and the anonymous Noone, for reviewing. You guys rock. Also, the people who faved this, FlamesofAnubis (again), helgoth11 (you're on my DA watch. . .your art rocks), Mr. Girl (again), Rahh Gumba Foo (again. . . your name is neat too), RAiLA, Takker, and warning live without warning. For the next story, I should list the reviewers like I just did. . . it's. . . fun. . . I just was too lazy before this. Of course. Anyway, enjoy the last chapter. Tis very adorable.

Chapter 10- Conclusions

So days later, and we're back to normal.

Zim had woken up when I was dropping Dib off at his house, and he seemed completely fine, except he complained of a headache.

We came home to find the base in one piece, and Gir had baked a cake for everyone, but he was the only one who ate it, which was fine with me. I think I saw it moving. . .

Over the next few days, I told Zim what had happened on Slaytia, the day we were there, and fragments of my past on that horrible place.

Zim's suspension ended today, so we both go back to Skool.

Dib greets Zim with a lovely insult, and then the two are fighting idiotically again, no deep, underlying conflict, it's just pure, simple hatred. How charming.

And the day carries on, being as normal as my life will ever be.

I do note several changes however; such as, Antoinette now has a nice bandage on her jaw to go with her ouffit.

At lunch, she and her friends continuously glare at me, but never get up from the table. Finally, I decide it's annoying, and call out to them,

"Quit staring. And choke on your drinks."

My eyes flash and they obey.

In class, because I didn't get the project done, I have to write a 10-page report on different methods of murder. That should be easy.

Another change isn't really that big, and it's only a vague observation, but Dib seems to be giving Kacer a little more attention. And I notice this, because she hasn't come around to bug me all day.

There is one change. . . that is significant. To me. Heh, no one else will ever really know, but I do. So it's a big deal.

For once, I'm. . . facing myself. My mind, emotions.

Not like I'll ever be a whiny, crying human, but I'm coming to terms with other feelings besides anger or hatred. And that's not bad.

I'm not weak anymore.

I can do anything.

Steg smiled at me for just a second.

"You don't get it, do you?" he asked.

"Get what?" I asked, confused.

He shook his head.

"You realy don't know what you're doing to me, do you?"

"What are you talking about?"

What about what you're doing to me? I thought.

"Nothing Tak," he sighed. "You can do anything, but you need to get your head on straight."

"You're sounding like Joon," I muttered, "Again

"Sorry. . . don't know what came over me."

Only, I don't think he was sorry at all.

When skool lets out, on the way home, Zim won't shut up, but it's not bothering me at all.

He's ranting something about being back at skool, and he's all fired up, saying how horrible that place is, and how when he rules this filthy planet, he'll anihilate it and all that.

It's. . . well, it's just funny to me now.

"And the food!" Zim shouts. "It's not food, it's disgusting filth! And the horrible children. . . gah! I hate them! They- hey! Why're you smiling!"

I don't even bother to hold back a laugh anymore.

Zim looks a bit shocked, and stops the says,

"Wha-?"

And I stop too, and say, still laughing,

"Zim, you're such a dope."

It looks as though he's battling whether to yell, or maybe just laugh along with me. He settles with saying defensively,

"What? Zim is no dope!"

I just pat his shoulder, take a breath, but then laugh again.

"What!" Zim asks again, sounding desperate. "I was just saying that I hate the humans, it's not funny. . ."

He looks so confused and defeated, it's. . . cute.

That's what he is.

Besides being brash, oblivious and egotistical, he's cute.

And I can actually admit that to myself now.

"Oh Zim," I say, taking a breath and waving my hand nonchalantly, "You hate everything. . . "

And then it's weird.

We're both really quiet after that, but it's like I'm waiting for something.

Finally, I take a step foward, and start to walk again. But then Zim whispers.

"Not everything,"

and I freeze.

And my face is hot, my insides flip. His head is down, but he's glancing at me, and for the first time ever, he looks shy.

Without meaning to, I smile.

And looking down, Zim's offering me his hand, slightly, unsurely, and I wonder is maybe his insides are flipping too.

I take it.

He smiles.

We walk all the way home, just like that.

I wonder where I'll go from here. . .

The end of Emotion Sickness

Aw, it's over. Well, this was fun to type up. I have other stories (IZ, and a Ranma 1/2 one-shot), and you should expect it between now and mid-June. The IZ story's called 'A Chance for some Raomancey'. Much ZATR. Much stupidity. More OC's. (It has a not-so-serious Joon!) But how often I can get on a comp is uncertain.

Anyway, thanks for reading. Try to review a final time please.I'm out.

-Pinky