Okie dokie, people. Now that the first chapter has been reposted, I'm looking forward to posting up chapter two for you all.
Now onto the chappy!
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"Oh, Dr. Kagomiwa," Kairi and Namine rose from their seats outside the room adjacent to them to greet the man in white. "Is our mother alright?"
The elderly man failed to answer as he shushed the girls and silently closed the door the Mrs. Yamata's bedroom. Dr. Daisuke Kagomiwa was the village's physician. He is a kind, elder man with whitish hair and is starting to slightly bald on top of his cranium.
"Come, girls. Let us talk somewhere more secluded, so we won't wake up your mother."
Nodding agreement, the trio headed for the kitchen where Namine had put out some cookies and tea for their guest.
"So, doc...What's wrong with mom? Is she going to be alright?"
Kairi asked politely as Kagomiwa took a bit out of his sugar cookie.
"Your mom, my dears, just has strep throat. It's a sickness of the throat usually near the tonsils. I would prescribe medicine for it, but unfortunately the type of plant I use for the ingredient is very scarce around this area. So your mother will just have to ride it out."
The pale blond-haired girl scratched her chin in a thoughtful manner. Suddenly an idea popped into her head.
"Umm, Dr. Kagomiwa," The older gentleman stopped his trek to the front door and adverted his attention back to the petite woman.
"Could you give us the name of the plant, at least? Maybe, Kairi, Selphie, and I later on can go look for it."
Chuckling was the only answer she received.
"My, my, my. I'm sorry it's too dangerous for you girls. The name of the herb is the Traverse plant. Like I said before, it's very scarce around this area and besides, it grows if in the deepest, most darkest parts of the forests. Far to risky for three beautiful girls like yourselves.
Have a good day now!"
And the man vanished out the door and down the road, back to town.
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"So your mommy's got strep throat, huh? What a shame. I was really in the mood for her famous apple cobbler."
The trio of friends lazily hung out outside in the breezy, yet surprising warm October weather. Namine was sketching in her art pad and the dynamic duo were throwing random rocks into the forest at the edge of the property.
"You know, Sel. Namine could make some cobbler if you want some so badly."
"Nah. It's cool. Besides, it wouldn't be the same anyway."
Namine ignored her friends rambling as she sketched away, losing herself with each stroke of her colored pencil. Noticing her "sister's" silence, Selphie bounded over to bother her.
"Hey, Namie!" Selphie yelled loudly into Namine's ear, causing the girl to scramble off the stump and onto the grass. "What ya drawin'?"
Namine glared daggers at her emerald-eyed amiga. Instead of returning to her perch on the protruding tree trunk, Namine placed her sketchbook back on her lap and opened to where she left off.
"The Traverse plant." The girl simply replied.
"Oh! Let me see!" The excited brunette snatched the book away and quickly glanced over the content. Pulling away, Selphie beamed brightly.
"This is pretty accurate picture, Namine, but..." Selphie stole Namine's pencil and added a few details. "You forgot the most important part: The Juice Cauldron!"
Baffled at Selphie's expertise of the Traverse plant, Namine and now Kairi looked at the completed illustration.
The plant itself was littered with thorns and it was lithe in such a way that the stems formed what looked liked petals around this bolus, smooth mass in its center. Namine guessed that it was the "juice cauldron."
"Selphie..." Kairi started. "How do you know so much about this shrub?"
"Oh, right. I forgot to explain! My mom planted this whole patch of them deep in the forest. Since they're perennial, Dr. Kagomiwa used them for medicine. But the past few years, mom and Dr. Kagomiwa won't even go near the woods. No idea why though!"
Giggling rang out through the yard as Selphie laughed and the Yamata's twins glanced at one another. This was it. A chance to help their mother get better!
"But Sel, do you exactly know where we can find these herbs?"
"Yeah, Namine. I do. Mama use to take me with her when we would gather them. It's a secret place, so I can't reveal its location to anyone."
Kairi and Namine sighed in defeat. So much for helping out mom.
"Buuuuut I can go and get some if you guys need it."
Selphie was soon smothered in a massive hug.
"Really, Selphie? That would be so great, but..." The excitement died just as soon as it started. "Would you really go alone? We wouldn't anything to happen to you while you're out."
"Aw, stop worrying, Kairi. I'll be fine!" She raced off the edge of the woods and waved back happily. "Be back soon!"
And she disappeared after that one simple phrase. Namine and Kairi both looked at each other again in worry. For some reason, they just couldn't shake the feeling that something was going to happen.
Something troubling and affecting to all of them.
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Selphie hummed a cheerful tune as she hopped over fallen, decaying trees and dodged the different colored array of falling leaves. The sun broke through the treetops and sprayed the ground with light.
Honestly, the brunette thought, what was so bizarre in here that freaked out everyone?
As she pushed forward, the light of day disperse and was replaced by the foreboding darkness. Selphie gulped audibly.
Suddenly, this place wasn't so happy and cheerful anymore. It almost made the teen want to turn and run, but Selphie coaxed herself out of the absurd thought.
"No," She mumbled distantly. "I have to get the Traverse plant for Mrs. Yamata, Namine, and Kairi. Can't back out empty handed..."
Finally, for what seemed like hours, our girl made it too her destination. There in the clearing sat a unruly, unattended patch of Traverse plants.
"There you little rascals are! Time to come home with mommy now!"
Seizing up a bountiful amount, Selphie stuffed them into the pockets of her dress and turned to leave; the feeling of being watched began to frighten her dearly.
The brunette soon commenced into whistling a nervous tune. The feeling deepened as Selphie saw a shadow move in the corner of her eye. She about-faced, her eyes searching for any sort of life beyond the tree line.
Seeing nothing, she headed off once more.
Tch, Tch, Tch
Selphie halted quickly; heart stopping in her chest as a bush rustled to the left of her being.
Tch, Tch, Tch
Fear and curiosity merged together as the brunette maneuvered her way towards the still bustling shrubbery.
"Hello?" She whispered softly, hoping to entice the attention of whatever was hiding in there. Getting no reply, she risked herself by edging even closer.
Tch, Tch, Tch
Selphie grabbed both sides of the bush and ripped it open, curiosity winning over fear. A scream echoed throughout the vicinity, but was drowned out by the trees.
The girl flew back; a quivering hand was placed over her rapid beating heart, trying to quell her anxiety.
A lone, brown squirrel hopped out of the ruined shrub and squeaked meanly at the brunette before scampering off. A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she finally relaxed her tense body.
"A squirrel? I was afraid off a stupid squirrel?"
Placing a small, dainty hand over her eyes, Selphie began to laugh. A squirrel...A friggin' squirrel had made her so jumpy.
'Geez, Sel. You're losing it here.'
"What's so funny, Sel?"
A gruff voice called out next to her. The brunette stiffened, her hand pulling away from her face as her emerald eyes wondered towards the noise.
Gasping lightly, Selphie bounced up from her position on the ground while wiping the cold sweat from her brow. There before her stood the Police chief of Kirikins: Seifer Almasy.
"Oh, Seifer...It's just you. I didn't recognize your voice for a second."
The short girl chuckled a bit, feeling a bit nervous under Seifer's scrutinizing gaze.
"Besides, how did you find me out here anyway? I'm so far from the village."
The blond-haired man shrugged.
"Eh, I have my ways."
"Oh, okay then. If you excuse me," Selphie took a few steps back, putting as much distance as possible between her and Seifer. Something about him didn't settle well with her. "I have to head back to the Yamata's house for lunch."
His blue eyes sparkled brightly in the darkness as he watched the young brunette back off.
"Well...Bye!"
Selphie made a beeline for the trees, but was flung backwards due to a tight grip on her wrist. She winced visibly as the hand tightened even further.
"Ow! Seifer, let go of me!"
No answer.
She was spun around then pressed forcibly against the man's hard chest. Alarmed eyes stared back into blue-slitted ones.
"You know, Selphie..." Seifer purred menacingly as he traced the outline of Selphie's face. "I'm a bit hungry myself."
Tears started to pour down the once enthusiastic girl's face as long pointed incisors poked out of ex-friend's mouth. Seifer swiftly yanked Selphie's head to one side, now having full access to her pale neck.
"Perhaps," Cooed the officer as he lightly kissed the now struggling girl's neck. "You could satisfy that hunger, Selphie."
The sharp teeth nipped at her neck, drawing little droplets of blond which Seifer greedily licked up.
"NO!"
Selphie brought her knee up and delivered a hasty blow to her assailants' groin. Seifer hissed in pain as he released her, trying to sooth his throbbing body part.
"You bitch!" But Selphie was already sprinting out of the clearing by the time Seifer had regained his composure. Though still in slight pain, the cocky adult smirked in pleasure.
The chase was always the best part before the meal.
Wet, green eyes flickered back and forth as Selphie ran for her life. Shadows passed her blindly as tree branches slashed at her face and body.
'Where the hell is that goddamned trail?'
The sound of fast approaching footsteps made the girl search with more vigor. Finally, no sound was heard beyond the worn-out girl. Taking this as a sign of good luck, Selphie turned to look back.
A horrible mistake on her part as a tremendous weight tackled her to the floor. Petrified, Selphie stared at the crazy, blond on top of her.
"This is it, Sel. The end of the road."
Seifer leaned forward, mouth slightly parted open as he bent down to the frozen girl's neck. Selphie shut her eyes, bracing herself for the pain to come, but surprisingly, it never did.
Cautiously opening one teary eye, sage-colored eyes widen.
Seifer sat there still straddling her waist with the expression of agony on his scarred face. Her eyes traveled down, only to rest on a wooden stake protruding from his chest. Blood seeped from his mouth as his body slowly started to deteriorate into ash.
Finally, the monster was completely gone, leaving only a bloody stake behind in its wake. Exhausted from everything, Selphie relaxed her whole body; her eyes narrowing as a tall figure stood over her.
The person was blurry to her, but she smiled.
"Thank you."
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Daylight was beginning to fade and Selphie still hadn't returned. Namine paced the living room as Kairi watched from the couch.
"Do you think she's okay, Namie?"
"I'm not sure, Kai. I'm afraid something might have happened to her."
"Like what?"
Namine stopped her pacing and collapsed into a nearby chair. She put her face in her hands.
'I shouldn't have let her go alone.'
"I don't know. I honestly don't have a clue."
A sudden knock at the door alerted them to someone wanting their attention. Both had probably guessed that it was Mrs. Hikari, Selphie's mom, checking up on her daughter.
Preparing herself for the onslaught of words, Namine opened the front door only to reveal an unconscious Selphie and an amber-eyed stranger holding her friend.
"I assume she's a friend of yours?"
Namine nodded to stunned to speak. Kairi soon entered the scene, probably thinking the same thing her sister was thinking.
What had happened out there?
"Please, please, come inside."
Kairi ushered the guest inside while Namine closed the front door against the cool night air, shivering not from the cold, but of the constant feeling of being watched.
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Sorry, no Roxas yet, but I assure you that he will be mentioned next chapter. I also wanted to apologize for not updating sooner. I've been partying all week. XD
P.S. I do not hate Seifer!
The plot thickens next chapter, so stay tuned!