Bandages

Humming

The Muse Sway

Disclaimer: Do not own any of these cool characters EA Sports Big does so…. Don't sue!

Her brain couldn't comprehend that she needed to stop. She closed her eyes as she ran into the snow plow that was parked there at the bottom. All was black and soon the sound went out as well. Kaori slowly drifted to unconscious.

Peak Two

Kaori had ran into the snowplow and was unconscious for a couple of hours. She woke up with a pounding headache. She was in the infirmary laying there with other snow boarders who also made grave mistakes. She sat up examining her surroundings there was nothing out of the ordinary. She sighed and laid back down wondering what exactly happened. She closed her eyes and remembered the sound of snow, the soft crushing sound when you ripped through it. Then she saw trees, rocks, mountains and Mac. She opened her eyes in horror she was racing Mac in Happiness. She looked around once more. Did she win or did he win? Was it worth the pain that she was currently in or even worse was it worth the agony in remembering that somehow an angry force was the element that steered her to higher levels of competition even against a friend.

The next day Kaori was released and there was a two day break for they were now moving into the second part of the tournament. Kaori and other riders were faced to relocate into peak two lodge. This part of the community was different more mellow and relaxed the atmosphere reminded her of her friend Brody. It was a calm, hip, mysterious, zen feeling. It was a lot harder cause peak two was a lot harder just like everything in life there was a balance to the rough somehow strenuous courses it had a beautiful relaxing side to it.

The riders all had a test run similar to those to peak one of course they're names matched them perfectly. But somehow she did better then she did in peak one. The grinds and strange non-natural courses where something she was used to. As she finished her test run and the day was finally coming to an end she received a phone call from her father on her way back to the lodge for dinner. She checked the screen and saw it was her father, she sighed as she clicked the button to answer it.

" Konbanwa, otokooya. Ogenki desu- ka?"

"Kaori you are in America you know you must practice your English especially when you are choosing the path you insist." the stern mans voiced answered.

"Ah-he sa-sorry father. I just forgot!" she said as she made her way towards the café until something caught her parochial vision, just barely in the corner of the eye. She saw her friend Mac outside it was snowing he had the radio on low. She slowly made her way to the open glass doors that were frequent in this lodge considering it was for wealthier people.

"Kaori! Kaori! Why aren't you listening to me!" she heard from the phone on her hand. She hid behind a tall potted tree immediately.

"Oh sorry, father call you back later, I'm really busy sayonara." she clicked the button. She continued to slowly walk up closer, hiding to nearest object of tall plant along the way. Why am I hiding from Mac, it's just Mac. She then began to walk up openly towards him.

"Hey Mac you want cherry Coke, or cherry Pepsi?" the familiar voice called out from a area she could not see. Kaori hid behind the nearest tall tree immediately and leaned against the wall keeping quiet.

" Yeah I'll have a cherry Pepsi." he yelled out towards her as he continued to look out at the vast wilderness.

"Can't you believe it, they have both." she said as she made her way towards him and in Kaori's view. Mac turned to grab the coke from her hand. They opened their cokes facing each other both taking long drinks of their beverages. Kaori continued to watch on feeling strangely guilty for spying on her friend.

" So… I was wondering if you would like to go snowboarding again with me soon. You know just around the lodge." she said as she tugged on the long unbutton sides of his Nordic beanie.

- - (I'm trapped in a box, watch the world as it flocks, to life's paradox….)

The siren sang on in the background while Mac contemplated his answer look intently at Allegra who was looking back up towards him.

" Yeah, sure when do you want to do this?" he said in a very calm tone. She smiled broadly before she jumped on top of Mac wrapping her arms around him. Kaori felt herself turn red immediately, even though she wasn't sure why. Mac seemed to chuckle as he blushed, not sure whether to pat her or how to even physically react. Kaori took the opportunity to make her quick retreat while they seemed busy. Leaving the snow slowly surrounded them and the singing siren on the radio. She heard foot steps ran off quickly behind her. She glanced as she saw someone turn the corner. Kaori took a brief look around. Did someone see her spy upon Mac and Allegra? She didn't know but decided to head even more quickly towards the café.

Kaori ate her dinner alone, and utterly alone considering that no one was eating their dinner at the same time as she was. She continued to keep her mind off the scene that happened moments ago as she walked back to her room. This room was much more modern and considerably more stylish as everything was more expensive but of course was at the expense of the SSX. Kaori took a shower before she grabbed her panda bear and turned off the lights to sleep.

-.-.x/O\x.-.-

Ruthless Ridge

Kaori was one of the first to arrive at the first heat which was Ruthless Ridge. She stood there waiting for the rest of boarders to arrive watching the stands fill up with fans. She looked over at the course she had to go. Ruthless was right, yet she loved the high jumps that were planted through out the course. Nothing was better than big air, because there's nothing better than tricking out in mid-air where all can see you. Kaori intertwined her fingers together getting excited just the perfect amount to fuel her in this race.

Finally Griff, Nate, Zoe, Moby and Elise arrived and the race could be started. They all made their way to the start gate just like all the previous times before. Hearing the crowd cheer for her name meant it's play time, her favorite time of the day. She made her way next to Griff in slot four followed by Nate then Elise. She slid there in place waving at the crowd waiting for Elise to make her way to her slot. Finally the crowed dulled as they were getting into position. Her orange and black gloves clashing with her custom lime goggles. She continued to look at the lights to turn on, waiting a rather long time then usual. Somehow the image of Mac and Allegra flickered in the back of her mind. She shook her head as she heard the click and everyone pushed off. Kaori noticed that she zoned out and finally pushed herself out a few seconds later than usual. What a way to start off a race, playing catch up.

She had to skip all the jump on the way down to just barely be near the other racers who were coming down from their jumps. Kaori grinned the light blue rail followed by Griff who seemed to be on the same page. She jumped off and landed on the following grind bellow. Racers swooshing as they passed and trying to get by the tight squeezes with less physical contact as possible. Keeping close to the path until she saw Moby and Elise took a short cut and she followed them as well jumping out passed trees and rocks near another blue grind just barely ahead of the pack. Kaori had just reached half ways tricking out on every big air she got. She loved it when the wind brushed at her as she zoomed back towards the ground. It was all too easy until she reached the snowed in grind part of the course, she was aiming towards the ones on top of the log house and missed. She took a nasty spill luckily she wasn't alone. However she lost her advantage as she placed in fourth.

Kaori watched Griff, Nate and Elise as they had made it in the placing. She was happy for them even though she wanted to win, she felt they deserved it.

"Hey Kaori, sorry that you didn't win but hey you and me took a nasty spill out there, huh. I was wondering if you can accompany me to the next race?" Elise said as she walked off toward the lifts to return to the lodge.

"Ah, that is very nice of you Erise-san, but why do you want me accompany you?" she asked carefully not to insult her. Elise stared at her for a moment before smiling as she looked upward towards the sky.

"Oh, well it's because the next heat Nate will be there…." Elise paused as Kaori tried to cover a giggle. "It's not what you think I mean, I just don't trust him, he's competition and I don't want him to sabotage me at any way." Kaori tried to grasp how Nate Logan could sabotage Elise in any way but couldn't figure it out.

"Umm okay." she said softly as she nodded.

"Are you okay you look a little pale, perhaps it's best if I get someone else to go with me." Elise said as she opened the door to the lift.

"Ah, there's nothing to worry about Erise-san I'll will go with you, no worries." she said immediately. Even though she did feel a little sad. She tried to figure out why she didn't feel as she usually did when she lost, but the only thing that she can think off was that she didn't win and that was the answer to her gloominess.

.0.0.0.0.

Kaori made it back to the lodge, feeling much lonelier than she felt all year. Of course she had moments of home sickness which slowly faded away faster with each passing year. She ate dinner in her room near the big window every room had. She face the frosted covered glass seeing the snow keep a steady pace. Falling as it always did covering up trees, rocks, faces. Faces, she shook her head she had other things to worry about such as the trick courses she will have to succeed in the following days.

After she had her fill she called the waiter to come take her tray and all it's remainders of food. She slowly made it to her bathroom and took a warm bath where she covered her eyes with a warm towel. Slowly loosing her battle to something dark and depressing. After a half hour she made it into bed, she turned off the lamp on her nightstand and tried to drift to sleep. However she laid there watching the ceiling. The shadow of snow falling upon the ceiling lighted with the moon. She tossed and turned trying to go to sleep however each time she closed her eyes the image of Mac and Allegra appeared. Finally after a while she finally drifted asleep.

She dreamt she was in a beautiful castle. It was strange however she never had dreams that were so dark and strange. She was used to dreams of her home town, bright lights and buildings, dreams that involved her with friends or snowboarding. This dream was much like a horror film. She continued on down the corridors walking past people she never met before but looked familiar. She finally she made it towards two big wooden doors that were huge and tall almost reaching the ceiling finally she opened the doors as if they were made out of cardboard and not wood. She walked in and she appeared in a big room where it was a lobby, she continued to walk passed the chairs and the big room that laid to her side. The more she walked the more familiar it looked and then she noticed it was the hotel lobby. The big lounge room to her left and the hall leading to the restaurant to her right and the large walkway that lead to the outside balcony.

The balcony was beautiful just like the rest of the lodge, more like a five star hotel. They stood there as frozen in time, at first until she crept forward, each step they continued their rolls as if they were in a play. Their voices repeating the same conversation over and over again. Her asking him to go boarding and tugging his Nordic beanie the same way. The snow falling down upon them and around them, the moon light lighting them up, making the snow sparkle as it fell upon them and around them. Wait it wasn't exactly like this! What is this? She noticed that she was only in her pajamas and there was no one around her.

"This isn't real?….This isn't real! Hai! Mac-chan… Mac!"

"No!" she woke up suddenly in a cold sweat. She looked around her it was only four in the morning, however her room was hot, she must have left the thermostat on high. She lowered her thermostat and returned back asleep.

.: As you may have guessed that I name almost every chapter based off a song as that is what inspires me other than you my fans especially Red out there. This one inspired this and ending of my last chapter Humming by Portishead, check it out if you can. Ha more confusion. Yes think and wonder what may take hold in the following chapters. Oh yes I'm Trapped I Box lyrics courtesy of No Doubt. (Update few corrections have been made)Read and Review:.