Disclaimer: I own all things unrecognizable.

Okay, just so everyone knows:

Text is Tala speaking in Zet's mind
Text is Zet talking to Tala in her mind.
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For a week, Riku had let the girl rest at Merlin's House in Radiant Garden. If anyone knew about what was wrong with her, it was him. He phoned Sora and Kairi, and they came over as well.

Walking unsurely down the stairs, she let herself into the kitchen. She had been holed up for seven days in Merlin's study before he let her go. The members of the Radiant Garden Restoration Committee only saw her exit with a glass of milk. Her entrance into the kitchen had missed them. She was quite a sight compared to when Riku had first found her. After eating regularly and having a shower, she looked downright human.

"Hey, are you feeling okay?" Aerith asked, walking over to her. She nodded, still not into talking very much. "Want to introduce yourself?" Brown eyes searched Aerith's face before finding what they sought.

"Zet." It hurt her, to know that she recognized them but none of them recognized her. Not even her own cousin realized who she was! But, what could you expect? Family does not forget, A voice scolded in her head. How can she forget? She barely ever met me.

Bitterness is a sour scent.

Jealousy is pungent as well.

Touché.

Gracias.

It was often like this. The wolf spirit within her-Tala-was constantly conversing with her in her mind. By now, she'd realized the girl that liked Sora was talking to her. What was her name? She'd heard all of their names at one time or another, but she couldn't remember this one. Kairi, Tala informed her.

Once Kairi finished speaking, Zet was content to take her leave. "Well, thanks, but you all look busy, so I'll leave you alone." She began walking towards the door, and then realized that her glass of milk was still with her. Torn between beverage and freedom, she did what any girl could do. She went into the kitchen, filled a water bottle with milk, and left. Many people had addictions to drink. Some alcohol, some juice, a few water, many coffee, hot chocolate in the winter. But really, you met few people with a true appreciation for a glass of milk.

A scream shattered the morning stillness, followed by a cry of, "PAINE! NO! I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS YOUR MUNNY!" Zet twitched and turned around, just in time for something to collide rather painfully with her face. As it hit, she tried to grab it. Instead, the thing went behind her.

To her left, maybe 10 yards in front of her, a rather gothic-looking sprite was flying away, apparently searching for something…or someone. This was odd.

The thing that had hit her fluttered out from behind her, hovering at about the level of Zet's shoulders. "Yes!" She cried out, pumping a tiny fist into the air. This fairy was blonde with a scarf around her neck that formed her wings. Her clothing was bright as well, and her laughter true. With no reason, Zet found herself becoming fond of this little…thing. "Oh, hey! Sorry 'bout that! Hey, are you from around here?" Zet made a quick decision and shook her head. "Oh, well hiya! I'm Rikku! Uhm, I'd love to talk but-"

"Rikku…" The gothic fairy was back, her ruby eyes glaring. Her voice was low and deadly, like something out of a nightmare. Rikku certainly had like thoughts, as she twinkled for a moment then disappeared in a flash, followed by Paine.

"Odd," Zet muttered. As she turned around, she screamed herself and fell backwards. There stood Riku, patient in his silence. Zet cursed him wildly, standing quickly and with ease. He was lucky all she had for weaponry was her knife, or she would have beheaded him with her katana for certain. "What are you doing?"

"Well, I'm not talking with a fairy, that's for sure." So confident. She felt uneasy and tried to walk past him, put he casual stepped in front of her. She moved the other way, and again he blocked her path. "Going somewhere?"

"Maybe." Why not tell him where his place is? Such a disrespectful boy. Make him submit, that'll do it. Tala always thought like that. She had little to no knowledge of human ideas. She always thought like a wolf, something that was a humorous, if nothing more.

I hardly think I could make him submit easily Tala. This isn't my territory.

You're a loner. You have no territory, no pack, not even a mate! The scorn stung, but Zet was used to worse. Focusing on Riku again, she took a step back and placed her right hand on her hip. "I would like to, if that is okay with His Highness?" Her mocking tone merely seemed to bounce off of him.

"Maybe you'd like an escort?"

"I hardly need an escort-" she stopped short of finishing and debated her situation. She didn't real want to be alone anymore. "I need no escort, but companionable company would be nice." Riku glanced at her oddly, surprised at her response, but nodded.

The two walked together down to the small town with minimal stores. Riku waits for her to see the clothing store, so she can get out of the clothes she's wearing now, one of Tifa's shirts that's too big and some of Yuffie's shorts. On her feet she wore only socks, having kindly refused shoes. But instead, she heads towards the smallest store of the lot. Riku followed her in, noting that there was no annoying bell on the door or any life device.

The store was bigger on the inside than it looked to be on the outside, but was still quite humble. Music played inside, soft and sweet. Riku saw a young woman standing behind the desk, writing something. She looked beautiful, and he wondered how much the owner paid her. It had to be a nice sum, for her to work here.

Slowly, the head rose, showing her soft, chocolate eyes that matched her long hair. She had an easy smile and stored away the notebook. "Can I help you?" (To this, Tala informed Zet that this girl could most certainly help Riku, but not in front of her eyes. Zet agreed and hid her laughter.)

"Just browsing. You work here I guess?"

"Yeah, I own this place." That was a shocker. Riku merely nodded though and followed Zet, how was looking over a pile of books. It seemed there was a little of everything here. The book Zet held was thick, but small. On the front, a pair of golden eyes stood out. Her hand covered the title.

She opened it and began to thumb through the pages while he explored the rest of the store, looking at all kinds of things but saying nothing. Cheap prices on about everything. Impressive. He heard two female voices and recognized them both. He strode over to the desk and listened to the girls converse.

"Lenne, you wrote this? By yourself?" Zet seemed awe-struck. Lenne looked down with embarrassment.

"Yeah. But I can't think of a name for it." Zet seemed to look at the page again.

"It talks of an entire lifetime in a single song. They say a picture's worth a thousand words but-" Here Zet paused thoughtfully. "That's what you should call this song." Lenne looked up at her with confusion. "1000 Words."

Slowly, a smile spread across Lenne's face. Taking the notebook back, she carefully wrote the new title in the margin of the paper. Riku sighed and stepped next to Zet, taking her by surprise. "Ready to go?"

Instead of answering, the younger girl walked to the back of the store and picked up a book. When she came back, Riku noticed it was the same as before. "How much is this?" Lenne informed her it was 37 munny, and she surprised Riku by pulling out said munny and handing it to Lenne. How did she get that? Either way, he shrugged his shoulders and followed her out, waving good-bye to Lenne.

"So, what's the book about?" The Keyblade Wielder asked absently, trying to make conversation. She'd had her head buried in the book all afternoon.

She glanced up for a second to respond. "Theories and legends. I began reading it when I was younger, but never finished. Never thought I'd find another copy." Having finished this, she buried her head again in the book. How could anyone have known she was such a bookworm? Absently, she began to fiddle with her now empty water bottle.

Finally they got back to the Merlin's. The sky overhead was painted with the dazzling colors of a sunset as Zet walked in, thanking Riku for holding the door. Things seemed to be pretty ordinary.

Too bad that this was only the calm before the storm. And it was so foggy, none of them could see it coming.

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Okay, I mainly wanted to use this chapter to set up the plot and bring Lenne in. Now that I have done these things, I am happy and ready to continue! And yes, for those who may be wondering, Shuyin has not been forgotten. And although this story in mainly Riku/Zet there will be other pairings.