Author's note: Konichiwa! I got it up just in time, or not depending on where you live. So, happy Valentine's Day or belated Valentine's Day! I hope you enjoy!

Marx: If you don't…I'LL EAT YA!

Dokeshisan: -_-'

Marx: Sorry. You have to guess the song this time! Heeheehee!

Dokeshisan: It's Joker by the vocaloid Gakupo Kamui. (Miku has a version too) It's only one of the translations.

Marx: Yer no fun! D8

9

Compassion is a Useless Affection

"Guess what February fourteenth is?" Dee shouted at me the following morning. I was still half asleep, chewing on a piece of toast with an idiotic expression on my face. I looked at her, feeling numb.

"Val'tines Dah," I slurred sleepily before collapsing onto the table top. A bit of drool slipped out of my mouth and onto the cool wood.

Dee tapped the table next to me a few times to draw my attention. It didn't work. "Silly Marx. It's time to wake up now! Marx?"

I fell from my chair and onto the floor, curling into a ball. I was tired because of the nightmares I had last night. They were horrible and kept me awake for most of the night. Still, I could barely remember much about them. Not that I wanted to, of course. That would probably frighten the life out of me.

"Marx," Dee whispered, picking me up so she could hold me in her arms, "you still look sick. Are you okay?" she rocked me to and fro like I was her baby or something. This just added to my theory that she would make an excellent mother one day. If she was this affectionate with me, I could hardly imagine what she would be like with her own actual baby. This thought made me smile. Dee taking care of a little kid…the vision pleased me.

"Dee, coffee!" I demanded abruptly in a raspy morning voice. She set me on the floor with a head pat and left for the 'kitchen.' I yawned while watching her screw around over there for a while. She held up a tea pot triumphantly, "that's tea, idiot."

Dee poured the liquid into a mug, returning to me with it. "Nope, I put the coffee in a tea pot this time!"

She sounded so proud, I wasn't about to burst her bubble with cruel laughter. That would just be wrong, so I took a sip of the coffee instead. It tasted so good and the caffeine seemed to perk me up instantly. "Thanks. That was really nice…even if it was out of a tea pot."

"Don't you like tea?" she inquired, "I've never thought of asking."

I shook my head. "Nah, not really. Hey, what were you saying about Valentine's Day?"

Dee didn't answer. She studied my face as I sipped my coffee, pressing her paw on my cheek. I shut my eyes, giving her a pleased smile to which she laughed. "It's nothing. I'm glad your fever went down, you look so healthy now! Oh but, where did your ball go?"

"Ba—oh!" after another sip of coffee I explained, "Yeah, I went back to the house yesterday and found it there. I think it's in the closet now."

She gazed at the closet and an excited expression crossed over her face. I took the last gulp of coffee, looking at her as if she was crazy. She waved me away, still excited. "Oh Marxy-Marx, you'll see soon!"

I yawned and decided to ignore her. She probably had some plan for what we were doing on Valentine's day. That was so like her too, planning days out like this. She didn't go through with them much, but when she did it was always amazing. I admired her for that, if nothing else. Her ability to plan things was much like mine, though less sinister. The fact she could come up with ideas on the spot was amazing too. It was too bad we were nothing alike, or else the world would be ours.

"Marx, do you think you'll ever make up with Grill?"

"Wuh?" I grumbled, almost sounding angry, "don't tell me you're going to force me to now!"

Dee sighed. "Well, no. It would just be nice if you could. Even if she hurt you, that doesn't mean she actually meant to. Marx, are you listening?"

"I don't wanna," a whimper escaped from my mouth. The thought of Grill scared me somewhat. It shouldn't have, but for some odd reason did. Maybe it brought back memories of then, with Kirby…I really didn't wish to think of that. So much pain went with the thought and I had no need for that to happen.

"Well, it's not like she's going to hurt you anymore, I'm pretty sure she regretted the last time," Dee looked away from me, "maybe I should've invited her to your party. Then all our problems would be solved, right?"

Problems? I wondered. "Are you saying I have problems? Because I don't! I'm not…I just don't!" I was shocked to find myself in Dee's face. She didn't seem to mind my anger at all. In fact, she just took my mug and placed it in the kitchen sink.

"Do you want to help with the dishes before I go to work? I'm not sure what you can do," she waved to me so I obeyed, "well, it's not like you can dry or anything. How about...you just stand there and look cute?" Dee nudged me playfully while filling the sink with hot water.

I didn't react to her happiness. The guilt from getting angry for no reason at her bothered me into silence. She was never mad at me, and if she was she'd go out of her way to say sorry. I was nothing like that, and deep down I didn't really want to be either. Being nice all the time seemed like too hard a task for someone like me.

"Dee, I'm not sorry for being angry," I growled, "I wanted to hurt you, so there!"

"That isn't very nice," Dee commented in a musical voice, "so I'm glad you're lying."

I smirked. She knew me too well, way too well. I wonder if that's what you get for staying with someone all day every day. It was nice to have someone who understood me though. I wasn't sure if I was the same with her. Probably not, but that was okay.

"Yeah, I'd never mean that," I mumbled with my eyes closed, "what you said about Grill and all…I think I might talk to her tomorrow, since I'm working today. It's not like I have anything better to do then anyway."

"Eh? Really?" eagerness seemed to radiate off of Dee as she faced me, "that's great! You're really changing, you know that?"

What she meant by that…I have no idea. So I ignored her, focusing instead on the blue sky outside the window. Before I left Dreamland it was covered in a sheet of darkness and fog with no sun at all. This was quite a change from then. When I thought about it, I contributed to everything returning to normal like this. Maybe in a way I'd redeemed myself.

"I need to go soon," Dee grunted, trying to place a plate away in the top cupboard. She struggled a few times before sighing in defeat. I let a pair of golden wings appear at my sides and flitted over to her, gently lifting her from the ground. She opened the cupboard and put the dish away with ease. Dee hopped off my back to land on her feet gracefully, thanking me.

She headed for the door straight away, grabbing her purse and blowing me a kiss. I waved to the best of my abilities with my wings as she shut the door. After that, I heaved a sigh and sat on the floor.

I did as promised and went looking for Grill on Valentine's Day. At first I asked whether it was okay for me to leave Dee on this day, but she said she was working anyway. So here I was, searching for a witch who probably despised me. It almost seemed like she disappeared off the face of Pop Star after a while as I couldn't find her anywhere. I was about to give in when I spotted her outside a shop, eyeing the goods inside lovingly. She was completely lost until I walked over and shouted in her face. She jumped and attempted to hit me with her broom but restrained herself.

"Idiot," Grill greeted me angrily, "I didn't see you coming. Gimme some warning next time!"

I stared at her with a blank expression. "Wuh? Why would you say something like that! I came here to give you a chance to say sorry to me! So you treat me like dirt! I-I might cry…" I sniffled, threatening her.

"Well, don't do that," she shuffled her feet a few times before giving in to me, "look, I'm sorry. I gave you a bruise, didn't I? Sorry."

"That's better! That's the respect I deserve! Now go and buy me some expensive chocolate!"

"No!" she spat, lasers practically shooting from her eyes. A smug smile spread over my face, "let's just get this over with, do you forgive me, clown?"

I gnawed on my lip in thought. "Well, seeing you haven't done too much, I might. It all depends on what you get me for Valentine's Day. It should be pretty awesome since you forgot my birthday."

"What? I'm not buying you anything else you freak! Scram!" she batted me over the head with her broom violently. I giggled and snuggled into her, trying to annoy her. I barely even noticed how she said 'else'. "you have serious issues." she muttered.

A few people walking by were staring at us and Grill seemed embarrassed. I glanced up at her with big eyes. "Grill, you're blushing. Isn't that cute? Can I give you a nickname? Can I?"

Her cheeks grew redder. "No! You really are evil aren't you? Stop humiliating me in public!" she shoved me away from her and I fell to the ground with a thud. I scowled at her.

"I'm not evil! Never! I just want chocolate," I glanced at the store window. There were little teddy bears inside holding heart-shaped chocolate boxes. To tell the truth I didn't even want them too much. My only priority was to annoy her at this moment. "Can you get me some? Please, please, please?"

She crossed her arms but gave up in the end. "Fine. But you have to repay me after I do. So wait here!" Grill stormed into the shop and I waited outside patiently. I decided the chocolates wouldn't even be for me. I would take them and give them to Dee, then I didn't have to pay for her present. Wasn't I smart?

After about ten minutes I started to worry about Grill. I peeked in the window, searching for her. There was no hint of the witch at all, so I turned back to the road. The people staring at us earlier were long gone. I wonder where they went. Maybe they were buying gifts for each other and all that stuff. I suddenly remembered something someone told me a while ago about Valentine's Day. I believe it was that on this day girls got boys chocolate and on the fourteenth of March the roles were switched. Now that I think about it, that was Dee before everything happened. Did she seriously affect everything in my life?

"Hey, freaky clown, I got you the chocolate," Grill exited the shop with three bags full of stuff. The little bell chimed as the front door closed again. I liked that sound and began to hum with joy, "what's your problem? Take the bags!" she waved a bag in front of my face.

"Arigato," I whispered, bowing low before grabbing the bag with my mouth, "you carry deh resht!" she did as I ordered and we walked down the street, awkwardly carrying the bags with us. Grill seemed very nervous, though I couldn't tell why. Maybe I was being strange and scaring her. That thought made me want to laugh sadistically. I don't think that was it however. She must've still been infatuated with me; how adorable.

We finally reached Dee's house without much effort. The front door was unlocked so I entered and we set down the bags. Grill started to explore the room with great curiosity. "What are doing? Don't break anything!" I warned.

"What? I'm not you," she objected with little energy in her voice. There was a pause before she let out an ah-ha and exclaimed, "I found it! I found it!"

I suddenly realized where she was. "Hey! There are private things there! Get away!"

Grill waved a violet, gaudily decorated book in the air. "I found your diary, now I can read it! Nyah, nyah, nyah!" she crossed her eyes and stuck out her tongue in a teasing manner, "Oh Marx, now I look just like you! Look, look!"

The rage built in my stomach until I couldn't take it anymore. I growled in a spurt of anger and rushed at her. She dodged, still taunting me. We kept going like this for quite some time before she decided to lock herself in the bathroom. I hit the door with my whole body a few times but she didn't open it. I slid to the floor, waiting for Grill to exit.

At this moment Dee conveniently burst through the front door. Upon laying her eyes on me a sombre expression spread over her face. She waved her arms around in that way she does. "Oh Marx! Hi, hi, hi! I forgot my purse at home, why are you here? Marx?"

I pouted. "I did what you said but Grill stole my diary and now she's reading it in the bathroom."

"You have a diary..?" Dee murmured to herself, shaking her head. She suddenly looked serious, "Don't worry Marxy-Marx, I'll get it back for you, alright?" her paw patted my head gently before she pulled a key out of her hammer space. She slid it into the keyhole (which I just noticed) and it creaked open to reveal Grill, who was snickering.

"Grill!" I shrieked while I felt my cheeks grow warm. There was some seriously private information in that book that no one could ever know. Not even Dee. "put it down right now!"

Dee didn't even give Grill a chance to respond. She rushed forward, retrieving the book for me. She then stuffed it in my mouth, as that would be the only way I could hold it. I placed it on the floor behind me, where I could protect it.

"I got it back for you!" she announced, proud of herself. I could see Grill over her shoulder, obviously radiating anger.

Instead of wondering how much the witch read I grinned with a bow. "Thanks. I don't know where I'd be without you, Dee! You really are everything a boy like me could ever want! I'm so pathetic yet you always seem to be there for me…" I turned away from her dramatically with fake tears in my eyes.

"Oh no Marx, you're such a gorgeous person! I should be the one feeling inferior," she argued, crushing me in an embrace, "just look at me, how normal I am! I wish I had your looks!"

"Never!" I wailed, ripping myself away from her, "your soul is what I need! Someone as pure as you, oh my!"

Grill laughed loudly at the side of us. "I hate to interrupt but…what the hell? That must've been the corniest thing I've ever heard! Nerds!" she cackled and took off her hat. A small pink package was removed, which she offered me.

"What's this?" I questioned, studying the box closely. The wrapping was fancy and detailed though obviously hand made. I wondered if she went to all the trouble of creating it for me.

"It's your birthday gift," she explained quietly, "I missed that day, so here you are. Please take it." Grill was staring at her feet, which were pigeon-toed. Dee took the gift for me (since I had no arms) and Grill finally looked up at us. There was a moment of silence before her face became a bright crimson and she made a mad dash for the door.

Dee shoved the present in my face. "Isn't she adorable? Ooooh, she's so like you! I can't explain it, but it's like she's a girl Marx! So cute, I think it's overwhelming me," she seemed to be in a daze, "here, take this before I faint from delight!"

I did as she asked and ripped open the belated gift. The actual item was covered by a whole bunch of tissue paper, which I removed. I was shocked to see what she gave me. "Calendar!" I exclaimed.

"'Calendar?' That's all you're saying?" Dee reached for the miniature calendar and opened it. After flicking through the pages she let out a giggle and returned it to me, "yep, she definitely likes you."

"What does that mean?" I snapped, looking at the pictures on each month. To my surprise they were all sketches of no one other than…myself. In some I was sleeping, in others I was smiling and in a lot I was angry. Maybe she thought I looked cute when I was mad or something. Either way, it was embarrassing that she would go to so much trouble for me. I didn't know what to say.

Dee stabbed me in the side. "Marx, is something wrong? Don't you think that's sweet of her?" she suddenly gasped and frantically ran to the door, "Oh, I have to get to work now! Sorry, sorry! I'll be home later! Be sure to eat lunch, okay? Okay!" the door slammed behind her and I cringed at the sound. I realized that I forgot to give her the few bags of chocolate for Valentine's Day and that she left her purse again. She was so absent-minded sometimes.

An awkward silence followed my thoughts. The calendar sat innocently in front of me, unmoving (one would hope) and rather dull looking. From looking at the cover reading 'CALENDAR,' a person could never know the horrors it held. I shuddered, but deep down a little voice spoke to me. That voice was cruel, cold, naughty and complete evil.

'Mess around with her and break her heart.' It said.

Author's note: LOL, that scene between Marx and Dee that Grill called 'corny' would be awesome as a mini-comic! ….okay, I might someday. When I do I'll put a link to it on my profile. Promise! ;D

Okay, okay! Never mind that, the next few chapters will be fun to write (evil laughter)! After that I have the plot all planned too, so it should work out pretty quickly. If I don't encounter writers block, that is…ugh. DX

Must hurry to beat the block…all hail lord Marx, Dokeshisan salutes you! (runs away to write next chapter)