Author's note: Bonjour! I'm planning on making this longer and (hopefully) more complicated than Dissimulation. I've briefly planned out the later chapters and unless you're actually interested in the relationships going on here, I suggest you leave.

Everyone: (leaves)

Dokeshisan: That is SO not funny! Get back here! (runs after them) Oh, and the title is from Butterfly Wings by Owl City!

6

I Feel like I'm Falling

"Marx! You need to wake up and face the day bravely! Let the daylight caress your cheeks and relish the breakfast I took time to prepare for you! Be strong and awaken!" a female voice said with a silly, dramatic tone. I realized that it was morning and I was on the cold floor, and with no blankets too.

"Mrrm…what's with that poetic crap?" I opened my eyes and squinted at the orange blur situated above me. It became clear as my eyes adjusted and I growled. Dee, the identity of the blur, threw some toast onto my face, "HEY! What was that for?"

She shook her head. "Please get up or I might have to use force. Marx? Please don't ignore me." She poked me a few times but I didn't reply. There was silence before she returned with her parasol which she proceeded to prod me with.

"DEE! Why is this so important?"

"That's better," she suddenly looked happy and kissed my left cheek, "okay, I said last night I would tell you what you missed out on. Don't you remember?"

I gasped at the memory. It actually excited me. "Okay, I'll go take a shower!" I stood and let out a yawn, then I realized something, "wait, aren't you working today? You had your da—"

Dee covered my mouth while giving me a cheerful expression. "No, Kawasaki called today and told me I should have the day off today as well! He's such a kind soul…though he does have many faults too…"

There was a long silence as Dee thought. "Um, I'm gonna take a shower now…" I murmured. She waved me goodbye so I felt obliged to leave. Silly Dee.

I couldn't be classified as a morning person or one from the opposite category, unlike most others. It kind of differed from day to day, probably backing up why some would label me crazy. That day felt unusually peppy, probably because I looked forward to my upcoming conversation with Dee. It wasn't just the subject, but also her voice. It was a soft, soothing sound that could put someone to sleep. I'm sure she would make a good mother someday, using that voice to tell her children bedtime stories.

"So where do you want to start?" I asked after my shower. Dee took a mug and filled it with tea while I sat awaiting an answer.

"Well, soon after you were taken by Drawcia, Nikki died," after she said this, my mouth literally dropped open. There was a long awkward silence while Dee sipped her tea a few times, "Apparently she was sick before coming to Dreamland but told no one. That's really sad if you think about it. Oh, and Zero left. He said he wants to travel to Ripple Star and ask for forgiveness. Isn't that sweet of him?"

I was still shocked that Nikki was dead, that she was gone. She would never be there to bug me ever again. We weren't close enough to make me cry, but it was strange to know I may never see her again. I shook the thought out of my mind and smiled sadly. "Yeah, I guess that's nice."

"I was really surprised at him! Also, a wizard came and tried to turn everything into yarn. He reminded me of Drawcia. Anyway, Kirby killed him with the help of some boy named Prince Fluff. I don't know much about it since I'm not well in touch with the others, but that's pretty much what happened when you weren't here!"

"Oh, then I missed a lot," I sighed. I decided not to dwell on the 'Nikki's death' thing and just kept going, "I'm sorry for not coming home sooner. I mean that…"

"Why are you apologizing?" she asked while filling her mug again. I frowned and said nothing. I remembered I needed to tell her something today, but I decided not to. The last thing I wanted to do was make her feel worse than fine or increase any doubts she had in me.

My eyes directed at the window and I tried to identify the butterflies flitting around outside. One of them was huge, I think it was a Queen Alexandra's Birdwing. That was strange for Dreamland. I groaned at the random thought and rested my head on the table. It was cold, refreshing my warm skin. But why was my skin warm? Maybe I was getting a fever. Damn, I didn't have time to get sick.

"Marx? Do you want to see Kirby today? I bet he missed you too," she laughed before noticing how tired I looked. She placed her paw on my forehead, "You're burning up! Oh, I have no medicine for you though…"

We were quiet for a long time. I shuffled my feet nervously under the table. I was used to this with Grill but it just bothered me now. "Why don't you go buy some?"

Dee began to pet my head gently. "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea, doesn't it? I'll take you with me too" she wrapped her arms around me in what I thought was a hug, but instead she picked me up and threw me over her shoulder.

"Hey! What're you doing? Put me down!" I kicked her a few times but she didn't seem to care at all, "C'mon, I'm the guy here! I should be holding you!"

"But you're sick and have no arms anyway," Dee opened the door and exited our house, humming happily. After walking half a block she placed me on the road, "there, are you happy now? You're heavier than I first thought."

I ignored her last comment, grinning. I scanned our surroundings, stopping at Kawasaki's restaurant. Of course Dee would take us here first, yeah, that made perfect sense. I figured she wanted to talk to Kawasaki or find Kirby first.

"Is Marx okay?" Dee stabbed me and I bit her paw as an automatic reaction, "Ow! Don't bite me! We're just stopping for breakfast, alright? No need to be angry! Goodness!"

I bent my body into a bowing position. This hurt my back, but that was okay. "I'm sorry. I don't want to hurt you. Please forgive me, please forgive me for hurting—I didn't mean to!"

"I know," she swung her arms around my body and pulled me along with her toward the restaurant, "you don't need to keep apologizing. It gets irritating after a while. So let's get some food to fill your tummy with!"

I didn't respond at all to Dee (or the fact that she called my stomach something as immature as 'tummy'). She looked to the sky and we entered Kawasaki's restaurant together.

We turned out spending the whole day at the restaurant. The breakfast was actually quite good, but it had no shape and I didn't recognize it. I would've asked Kawasaki about this, but that would be rude and I might need him some time. I mean, you never know.

Okay, getting back on topic, we sat down for the whole time on a pair of stools. After a while my ass became numb but I didn't complain, just like I didn't ask about the drink. Still, it did feel weird. It made me feel kind of nauseous too.

"Marx, why are you squirming?" Dee asked, sipping the green thing. I didn't notice my own movements until she pointed it out to me,. "Do you have to use the bathroom? It's just over there. I can show you if you want."

I shook my head. "Um no. I'm just tired of staying in one place for too long. Can we get up and go somewhere, please?" My eyes shut for a moment, only so I could open them again filled with tears, "Please, Dee? Pretty please?"

Dee was silent and I started to fear she was going to mega-hug me. I was right. "OMIGOD! HOW CAN YOU LOOK SO ADORABLE ALL THE TIME? EVEN WHEN YOU'RE BEING MANIPULATING! EEEEK!"

I was surprised at first, but ended up laughing. The controlled laughter from being slightly happy wouldn't stop after a while and I was horrified. It started to come out in loud bursts of cackles that made my throat sting. I realized I had no control of it anymore and I fell to the ground, hysterically giggling. My face became hot and the laughing was more like coughing due to lack of air.

Dee was on top of me directly after I fell from the stool. She shook me a few times and I regained control of myself. I sat up to see that the customers were all staring at us. Before saying anything I took a few much needed deep breaths.

"I'm okay!" I smiled and tilted my head slightly, "You don't need to worry! I feel just great! See, all good!"

Her eyes blinked a few times before she hugged me tight. I could barely breathe. "I believe whatever you say then. But are you really sure? That didn't seem normal…"

I rolled my eyes though she couldn't see me. "I'm fine. I just laughed, or isn't that allowed anymore?"

"No, I overreacted," this was followed by a head pat, "It's just that you're like my little brother or something and I want to take care of you."

This made me feel safe on some deeper level than I could comprehend. Even if it was from myself I'm certain Dee would try to defend me. I still didn't find it necessary to tell her I just lost control of my emotions and body. I wouldn't want to worry her for no reason. So I wriggled free of her grasp with a reassuring smile on my face. There was no need to scare her. No need at all.

"Dee!" a pink blur appeared seemingly out of nowhere and embraced Dee, "I missed you! Where have you been?" Kirby, the true identity of the blur, giggled and let go of her. He saw me and looked cautious. I couldn't tell you why.

"Hey, hey, hey!" that just flew out of my mouth, I didn't even think about it. Well, it was my catch phrase after all.

It didn't take very long for Kirby to give me a squeeze as well. "Marx! You came home too! Where did you go anyway?"

The warmth in my stomach transformed into a light chuckle. "Don't you remember? Well, you are an idiot…"

"Marx!" Dee snapped, "Be nice to Kirby. He's cute."

"What kind of justification is that…" I whispered. Kirby squeezed me tighter and actually lifted me off the ground, much like I was a teddy bear. This caused me slight pain and I let out a high pitched yelp, "Dee! Save me! DEE!"

She strolled casually over and shoved Kirby away from me. "Kirby, Marx knows how much you love him. And Marx, OMIGOD YOU'RE SO CUTE WHEN YOU'RE FRUSTRATED! YOU'RE CHEEKS ARE ALL PIIIINNNNNK! SO CUUUTE!" now it was Dee's turn to bear hug me. What was with people today?

"Dee," I choked, "I know you find me cute…but please…" she let go and I breathed in a great big breath, "it's like you're trying to kill me." I turned my head away from her direction.

She waved her arms in front of herself. "I'm sorry Marx! Even now I'm resisting but I know…I can…do it! Er, I TAKE THAT BACK!" Dee's tight grip on me was resumed. I grumbled a bunch of curses that she (hopefully) couldn't hear.

"Marx's eyes are bugging out, Dee," Kirby pointed out as he could see the top of my face, being situated behind Dee's back, "Marx, are you okay?"

"Yep," I replied, which sounded more like a squeak. Dee let go of me and patted my head. Now that I thought of it, she did treat me like a younger brother, as she highlighted earlier. This was rather strange and probably wrong on some level.

A memory flew out of nowhere and into my head. "Dee! We came out to get medicine! Don't you remember?"

Dee was shocked before laughing at our idiocy. "Oh yeah! We were getting medicine for you! I almost forgot, and it's so important too," she spun around to face Kirby and explain, "He's getting a cold."

"Oh, I thought it was something else," he snickered after saying this. I was instantly offended, knowing what he meant.

"That isn't..! You shouldn't joke about that kind of thing!" I shouted. We were all silent and the guests in the restaurant still watched us intently.

Dee looked around at the many eyes boring into my skull. She then sighed. "I don't know what you two are going on about, but we're obviously drawing attention. Let's go now Marx, alright?" I agreed eagerly and we said our goodbyes to Kirby. We nearly banged into that blonde girl with the braid thing. I forgot her name. She expressed anger towards us in gestures but we were gone before any words could leave her mouth.

We went to the drug store, of course, which was conveniently located just down the road from Kawasaki's restaurant. Dee announced she would go in alone and ordered me to wait outside. I did as she asked, trying to be as loyal as I could (I was never really good at that, so this was a bit of a challenge).

"Hey," a hand waved in front of my face, snapping me away from my thoughts, "Earth to Marx, do you hear? Can you read me?"

I laughed at Grill, the hand's owner. "Sorry. I'm just waiting for Dee! She's getting medicine for me!" she appeared shocked before I added, "I have a fever."

"Oh right!" she laughed, "I thought that. Hey, I just rented a small house. Do you wanna come see?"

I blinked a few times. In all truth, I wanted to go along with her. It just didn't seem right to leave Dee so fast. She was being too kind for me to be and asshole. "Um, no thanks," I giggled in a sugary sweet tone, "I'm spending today and tomorrow with Dee!"

Grill's expression was disappointed though she just shrugged. "Okay. You aren't her pet dog you know. I mean, you don't have to follow her everywhere."

"Wuh? Of course I know that," I went back to staring off into space. Dee…what was taking her so long? Maybe it was the line up, or maybe something was wrong with the cashier, or it could be that alien cyborgs captured her and were about to eat her brains. I doubted that last one highly. Still, it was possible. If that was the case I could fly after them and beat them badly. That way Dee could see how heroic I really was!

Grill grasped one of the tips of my hat and tickled my cheek with it. My whole body literally froze. "This hat is adorable, where did you get it? It really flatters your face, but then I think everything does." She whispered in my ear.

I laughed at her attempt to flirt with me."Nice try, but there's no way you can charm me with compliments. No matter how much you like me, wishes can never really come true. Sorry to sound harsh, but you're really one of the most unattractive girls I have ever met. I'll never love you back." My line of sight was directed back to the empty road. I could see Grill's face turn red in the corner of my eye.

"You idiot!" she cried, "I hate you and I'll always feel that way! How can you be so cold? You can't even try to understand how I feel for you! I don't deserve this!" the force of her hand hit my cheek and I jumped away in surprise. It wasn't a playful punch like she would usually give me; it was a fully fledged smack in the face. It stung so much I could barely even move my mouth or face. Grill seemed to be shocked by her actions as well and sprinted away, sobbing.

My cheek was throbbing violently. I figured a bruise would form there, unfortunately. I didn't mind bruises, cuts or anything like this; it was mostly just the guilt that got to me. The fact that a friend of mine now despised even looking at me broke my heart into little pieces. Maybe it was because of what happened before with Kirby.

I fell to the ground and exhaled a bit too loudly than intended. Hopefully she would forgive me someday, but it seemed like until then I'd have to live without her. Good thing this wasn't a hard task.

Author's note: Seems just as Marx comes home his life is crumbling somewhat. Not just Grill's anger either, but it seems like his sanity is slipping. Poor little thing! This is part of the plot though. You shall see…(evil Marx-like laughter is heard)

Well, no one is really reviewing…but that's okay! I'm not a review-hungry person, so yeah. I just got into the habit of asking constantly! ;)

This chapter was a bit all over the place, but next time it'll be more organized. And since it's February tenth soon anyway…you know who's birthday it is! XD

Farewell 'till then!