"What?" Kid sounded surprised. He looked around. "I don't sense anything, are you sure?"
I nodded. I placed a hand over my ribs. "This feeling… I'd know it anywhere." I closed my eyes and folded my hands together. "It's not as strong, but I can feel it faintly… somewhere." I tried to pinpoint the Kishin.
I saw it, at a park, a platform.
I tried to explain my vision. "I don't know where it is… A park, maybe? I see a large platform… benches… lampposts, and cherry blossoms… lots… a flag, with a skull on it…"
Liz and Patty looked at each other. "Central Park!" I nodded. The name seemed fitting to the things I was seeing. I opened my eyes.
I looked around at everyone. "Come on! Stop waiting around!" I began running, only following my instincts on where I thought the monster lurked.
As soon I as I saw the cherry blossoms, the shadow attacked. He was quick, but thankfully Roxas was in front of me, and his blades shot out of his arm, blocking it.
"This is going to be a lot different than before." I ran straight into the darkness, throwing punches like a maniac, Roxas following with slices and cuts. The monster yelled and flew back, and finally took form.
The Kishin was skinny, showing his bare ribs and seeing his heartbeat. Blades came from his back and chest, with razor sharp teeth and glowing red eyes.
"So you've come." It snarled. It's hoarse voice sent chills down my spine. "Time to play!" It lunged again, this time straight at me.
"Liz! Patty!" Kid yelled.
"Yeah!"
"Hahaha!" The sisters flashed white before flying into Kid's hands. He held them backwards, and began shooting with his pinkies, like last time. Golden shots flew from the twin guns, figuring he was using Soul Drive as well. Kid shot at the bony assassin, flipping him away from me. I grew angry, and for the second time held my hand out to Roxas. Without hesitating, he took it, flashed white, and became a katana.
I twirled him around with my fingers playfully before gripping him backwards. I heard Kid gasp as he saw that our souls were in perfect harmony.
"A sword?" The figure laughed at me. I grew furious. His expression reminded me of my shadow's.
"How dare you!" I began cutting away at him. Roxas's blade seemed to get sharper and sharper. I blocked the Kishin's hand attempting to karate chop me. With every strike, he seemed to get faster and faster.
"Stop cheating!" It disappeared, leaving nothing.
"Alice!" Kid yelled. I turned around to see the Kishin's mad face right above me. I barely had enough time to block his sharp knives. Sparks flew between the two metals. He jumped back.
The brown-haired kid's face turned to me inside the blade. "Let's finish this!" He panted. I nodded.
We screamed.
"Soul RESONANCE!"
I felt energy fly around us. Kid's eyes widened. Purple sparks circled around.
A black design came from my shoulders, down my arm, onto my wrist, and melted onto the blade. My tattoos carved into the side, making a beautiful pattern. The blade grew even longer, now almost one fourth bigger than its original size. Roxas gasped.
I smirked evilly.
Somehow, the charm on my wrist was the only sound I heard.
"Oh?" The Kishin cocked its head towards us. I twisted my body and slashed a diagonal cut, straight through the shadow's chest. Black blood spewed. It attacked next, cutting my cheek deeply. I felt no pain. The blood dripped down my face. I wiped it with my hand. The dark, red liquid reminded me of Himari's eyes. I stared at the monster.
It ran towards me, its long legs reaching impossible speeds. I flipped Roxas back upright. I squinted. Kid's shots flew, slowing it down.
I jabbed straight through his stomach. Black goop spilled all over the blade.
Ching.
Ching.
Ring.
The bell chimed in my ears. The Kishin roared before disappearing into gray dust and a blood red spirit. The markings on the blade disappeared as Roxas returned to his human form and grabbed the floating red ball. Liz and Patty returned to their human forms, too.
He offered it to them. "Nah," Liz refused. "Kid won't let us have souls unless we have the same number." She grinned. "Enjoy it." He swallowed it whole. I covered my minor cut with the palm of my hand while I came back to my senses.
When I resonated with him… my tattoos formed with him… and I went killer crazy.
A familiar smile filled my mind for a split second.
My eyes widened.
Himari?
No… it couldn't be… I felt numbness on the back of my neck and in between my shoulder blades. My right thigh became limp for a few seconds, too. I wondered why.
"Hey… Alice?" Roxas was in front of me now, scratching the side of his head. "We make a good team, huh?" I nodded.
Silence filled the park until Patty finally yelled "Ask her, damn it!"
"Want to become partners?" My eyes widened at the question. I waited a long time, awkward silence in the heavy air before I turned on my heels, my back to him.
The blossoming park seemed dull and lifeless, as if the petals stopped falling. I turned my neck to see him.
"I'm sorry." I whispered. "I work alone." And with that, I walked off. It was difficult since my thigh was sore, but I didn't care. I wasn't ready for a partnership. I'd rather work alone. I turned down the alley way and into the shadows. The sun disappeared and clouds formed, making everything gray. Drops of rain splattered, like the mood I was in.
I felt remorse for my decision, but I wasn't the only one influencing my choice.
I didn't see her, but her voice called out softly, instead of her usual loud self. "You don't need him, Alice…" She cooed. I felt an invisible hand placed on my shoulder. "Like you said, you work alone, with me… I'm all you need." Her hands wrapped around me in an embrace. My eyes were dead. I couldn't see where I was going. I was just glad to see her.
I whispered. "Where were you?"
"Nowhere…" Silence. "Alice, I'm sorry for getting angry at you." Her voice was dripping like syrupy honey. "I just want you all to myself… you're all I have." Her words tore at my heart.
"No, I'm sorry… I'll never leave you, remember that." I smiled at her laughter as her presence ceased.
I didn't know it at the time, but I just drove part of my soul into the madness.
"Roxas… I'm sorry…" Liz walked over to me and placed a hand on my shoulder. I shrugged her off.
"She was the first person who matched soul wavelengths with me." Alice's words echoed back at me.
"I'm sorry… I work alone."
"But why?" I whispered. "Why can't you work with me?" It seemed like it was my fault.
An image popped into my head. She looked like Alice, only with red eyes and white hair. She wore a blank gown that never ended. Black, feathery wings sprouted from her back, making her look like a demon angel. She smirked at me.
"Who are you?" I asked.
I walked into the bathroom, making sure I locked the door. I looked into the mirror. I stared at my reflection. I slipped off my coat and unbuttoned my shirt. They fell to the cold ground. I looked at my back and neck, absolutely shocked.
My markings now covered the back of my neck, plus in between my shoulder blades. I didn't unzip my pants to know that the markings had spread over my thigh, too. I slipped my shirt back on, placing my jacket over the dry sink. I breathed heavily next to the mirror. My breath froze onto the glass, making a gray smudge.
I raised my finger and began writing. "42-42-564, type this number whenever you want to knock on Death's door." I whispered to myself. The glass shined brightly, making me shut my eyes.
"Yes, Alice?" Shinigami's voice rang through the cold bathroom. I saw his mask awfully close to the mirror. I waved.
"Shinigami…" I mumbled, placing my hands against the cold surface of the counter. "I need to speak with you…"
"What? You're tattoos spread?" Shinigami sounded worry, making me queasy. I nodded.
"It happened when after I Soul Resonated with Roxas." I looked down. I didn't want to talk about him, but I had to. "My markings spread down my arm," I explained. "And onto Roxas's blade." I glanced at Shinigami. He was scratching his head.
"Where exactly did they spread?"
"The back of my neck… in between my shoulder blades, and I'm sure my right thigh."
"Hmm…"
"There's something else…" I choked back tears. Roxas's expression of my answer burned into my heart.
"Yes?"
"Roxas… he asked to become partners with me… I wanted to… but I thought it was too soon, and I said something cruel…" A tear streamed down my cheek. My scratch had closed up, and I had put a band aid over it once Shinigami pointed it out.
His voice grew stern. "What did you tell him?"
My lip quivered. I clenched my fist. I screamed, squeezing my eyes shut and yelling at the floor. "I said I worked alone!"
"Oh, Alice… it's not so bad…" Shinigami tried to cheer me up, but his kindness made me feel worse. I snapped my neck up to stare at his mask.
"No it's not! I feel like such a terrible person! I wanted to become his partner, too… but…" I mumbled. I raised my voice. "I don't know!" I clenched my hair with my fists, shaking my head. I cried, furiously trying to stop. Shinigami was the only living person I could turn my fears, turn my secrets to.
Himari was just someone in my soul.
"You're not… Hey, when the time is right, you'll know what to do." I slowly looked at him, wide eyed. His words hit me somewhere else, like none before. It… inspired me.
"But, what if I get scared… and do something?" I wiped my tears. "What if I screw up again?"
"What do you mean?"
I stared straight at him. I trusted him more than anything, like a father I never got. "When I resonated with him… I went… crazy…" My expression grew stern. "That's a reason why I denied him… I didn't even understand myself, let alone become partners with somebody." Shinigami nodded slowly.
"I see, I see. Well, like I said, when the time is right…" He repeated.
I finished his sentence. "I'll know what to do…" I smiled, and finally stopped crying. "Thank you, Shinigami." I wanted to hug him.
"Anything to help a friend!" He saluted me. I mimicked his actions. "Bye-bye!" His presence faded, and the only thing left in the mirror was my reflection.
"I thought he'd never leave!" Himari's voice rang out. I saw her in the reflection of the mirror behind me. I turned. Nothing. Back at the mirror, she was even closer to me, just a few steps away. I couldn't see her face.
"H-Himari!" I whispered.
"What happened to, I'll never leave you?" Fake sadness was forced into her words. I stomped my foot.
"I won't!"
"Then why are you telling all your troubles to that dumb god when you could be telling them to me?" She placed her thin hand against her heart. Himari walked closer, and whispered into my ear.
"Why must you hurt me?" She clenched her heart. I felt it.
One beat at a time, I felt my heartbeat resonate with hers in harmony. I glared at her.
"I'm not… you're… you're just a part of my soul, so technically I'm talking with myself. I'd never get anywhere… But Shinigami is an actual being." I sighed.
I still couldn't see her face. "Are you implying I have no feelings, just a mere copy of you? What if you're a copy of me?" I laughed. Her presence disappeared.
I walked out of the bathroom and set my jacket down on my bed. I sat down. I stared at my folded fingers.
"What am I going to do?" I stared at the open doorway. "Aki… I haven't forgotten about you. I miss you…" I stood up and walked into the kitchen, leaning against the counter with my elbows. I stared at the giant pot where I was boiling potatoes, carrots, onions, and meat. I checked the pot roast, and set it off the oven to cool down. I stared at the time on my phone as I stood there silently.
Where are they?
Five minutes past. Two more minutes. Two more. One more. I sighed as grabbed a small cloth from the counter and soaked it in cool water. I wringed it until it stopped dripping and placed it on my forehead. A headache pounded, making my rub my temples. I grabbed a sticky note from the granite counters and wrote-
To Kid- Take pot off oven and let it cool for a while before eating –Alice
I set the pot roast back onto the burners and set the fire on low to keep it warm but not to burn it. I opened the steamy lid and poked a carrot with a fork I grabbed. I tasted it. It was fully cooked, good.
I walked to my room and changed into my pajama shirt. I slipped into bed, dreaming about when the three would get home. Ten minutes later, I heard them come through the door. They were strangely silent. I heard Kid peel off the sticky note and read it silently to himself. Once he put the giant pot off the burners, I heard his footsteps walk down the hall. I turned onto my back, replacing the wet cloth back on my forehead.
"Alice?" Kid's voice came through the open doorway. I had long since closed my eyes, so it seemed I was asleep. I kicked my legs, slipping my high knee socks down to my ankles. I heard his footsteps creep closer to the bed. I felt his weight press down against the side of the mattress as he sat down. Kid gently grabbed my shoulder and shook it. "Alice?" He repeated. Kid took the cloth off my head and placed a cold hand against my warm forehead, then my cheek, then back on my forehead. He placed the cloth back onto my head, and I turned onto my side as he walked out.
I opened my eyes to see his staring back at mine. He had a hand placed up against the doorway, his back to me, and his golden eyes with a sad expression.
I closed my eyes again and fell into fitful nightmares and dreams.
I was in a dark corner, with everyone around me completely ignoring me, talking, laughing, and having a ball. I had my knees close to my chest, hugging them. Black tears dribbled down my cheeks and chin.
Someone similar to Tsubaki whispered to a Soul replica. "Look at that poor being, in the corner there."
"In the corner?" Soul whispered.
"In the corner…" Tsubaki nodded. I noticed their voices were singing, a terrible melody. "That girl there, that poor girl who lost her own sibling." I put my hands to my ears, but it was no use. A fake Maka and Black*Star joined them. I noticed everyone was in medieval clothing, suits and fluffy dresses.
Black*Star laughed, and Maka sang softly. "Tsk, tsk, tsk, who will she choose? That shadow or us?"
Liz came over, and Patty laughed a harmony with Black*Star. Liz sang the chorus. "She is a mere servant to her evil. Repent, repent!" I cried harder, and buried my face into my golden dress.
Kid's voice sang, louder than everyone's whispers. "How can we trust her, if she doesn't trust us? Repent, repent!"
I woke up with a start, panting hard and sweating. My damp cloth fell onto my lap. I wiped the sweat from my head with it. I stared at the clock.
6:00 AM.
I sighed. Silently I got dressed, and went into the bathroom to brush my hair. I put it up in a ponytail with my long string of blue ribbon. After that I went and grabbed my backpack and went into the kitchen. I sat down on the couch with an apple in my mouth. Juice dribbled down my chin. I checked my bag for everything.
Sack lunch, notebook, pencil, ID, binder. I closed it and stared at my phone time.
6:25.
I looked down at my shoes. I stood up and went back into the kitchen. I got another sticky note and wrote.
Went to school early- needed to check something. –Alice
I grabbed my brown satchel and walked out the door, hearing Kid yawn as the door slammed.
The air was chilly and nipped at my face as I walked out. I walked slowly, enjoying the loneliness. The sun had barely begun to rise as I was halfway up the stairs to the Academy. The morning was extra cloudy, cold, and muddy. I checked my phone.
6:40.
I had taken extra time in getting here. I watched my breath melt into the sunless morning. I took one step at a time. Shinigami had told me the staff members were here at 6:30, so I relieved to find the doors unlocked. I stepped inside, happy to be warm. I walked slowly around all the halls, and up the stairs to the second floor. There, down to my right, laid the library. I entered.
"Hello? Anyone here?" The library was huge, with books among books, all with a number on them.
Rank 1.
Rank 2.
Rank 3.
Rank 4.
And Rank 5. Those had a barricaded fence around that entire section. I sighed. Tables were placed oddly here and there, with the only lights given off in the dark room was the small lamps on them. I stepped up to the large counter, and pushed the small hand bell.
"What do you want?" A hoarse voice asked. I saw no one. It's as if the question was asked by the wind.
I pulled out my ID from my bag and placed it out on the table. "I was wondering if you could show me the book of Resonation and Madness."
"Mmm…" A book floated out in front of me, with gold letters of my last name printed on it's hard cover. "All of the thosebooks are Rank 3… oh!" The voice noticed my ID. "Alright, sign your initials here." The book flipped opened to the front page, where there was a little tab where you signed your initials on it. A few initials such an "M", "F.S.", and another "M" were scribbled over the slip of paper.
"Sign." The shadow placed a bony finger and tapped the book. It turned and went back to whatever it was doing. I grabbed a nearby pen and scribbled the letter 'A'.
"Hmmm, you're free to go." It shooed me out into the hall. I quickly shoved the leather book into my sack.
I need to find out, why that happened…
I touched the back of my neck as the bell rang. I quickly rushed to Stein's room.
Ox was there, and was glaring at me through his round glasses. Thankfully he didn't trip me on my way up. Kid glanced at me and waved. I ignored him.
Tsubaki glanced over at me. "Are you Alice? You seem… tired. Rough night?" I nodded. She giggled. "Well, everyone has their poopy days." I smiled gently and began writing notes, and trying ever so hard not to close my eyes for more than a blink.
As soon as I heard the bell, I stood up and began packing my things. Despite my grogginess, I was the first out of the class. I started down the hall, down past the cafeteria, and up the stairs.
The breeze welcomed me onto the small terrace. I smiled. I loved this weather. Dark clouds covered the sun's brightness still while giving off a cool light. I sat down on the bench, like yesterday. I noticed the small impact that Ox made yesterday was completely gone. I pulled my brown sack out of my pack and began eating. As I munched on crackers I stared blankly at my left. I couldn't help but stare at the amazing view. All of Death City, plus the desert that surrounds it.
I started to think of all that happened. I put my head down and shivered. It was cold. I dangled my feet. I wondered why I was ignoring Kid. I wondered how Father was doing. I wondered about Mother, and if she was in pain, where ever she was, heaven or hell. I wondered where Aki was, and if she was safe. I wondered how Roxas was doing.
I closed my eyes as tears bit the wind.
Roxas…
Roxas…
…
…
…