"Chapter Three;
More Discomfort"

I was enraged. This was too much for one day! The girls were forcing me through the wardrobes, and making me try on different outfits, claiming I'd look better in them. I'd look better in the muddy clothes I had to give to Kaedo.

Now, I was in one of the most ridiculous outfits I've ever laid eyes upon. It was a pink t-shirt with black skinny jeans, and brown skater shoes. I looked stupid; I could see Dan, and the other guys trying to hold back on laughing. I didn't mind the style, but seriously, pink? Brown? This was insulting!

I growled. "No way! Not in this life, or the next!" I proclaimed before people could comment. I took the shirt off me, and threw it to the floor, without giving a damn. I didn't mind the skinny jeans, but the shoes, and shirt just nearly made me shudder.

I went back into the room I was placed in, when they found me, about to slam the door, but it was stopped, abruptly. In the doorway was Shun, who was holding something in his hands.

More clothes. Joy.

He handed them to me. "You'll like these better, and I have some shoes you won't argue with." He assured me. That gave me some sanctuary. Then, he grew serious. "Also, that's your last choice, otherwise the girls are gonna make you wear orange, and yellow. Just to give you a heads up." He added in, shutting the door.

I shuddered again. I don't do the whole bright color deal, no matter how much they beg, no matter what the lengths, you will never catch me in it. I sighed, settling with the clothes I was given...besides, Shun actually payed attention to my colors, so I felt better.

I smiled at what I was given. It was a black shoulder cut shirt, with a long sleeved, dark purple trench coat. He also forked over a set of red fingerless gloves. Talk about a lifeline, 'cause Shun had just saved me from the tormentors.

I wondered how bad it was when they were shopping around, then pushed the thought aside, not wanting to imagine it; I knew for fact I'd regret bringing up the subject.

I got into the outfit I was given. I was comfortable wearing it, and glad that it had my colors in it. I stared at myself in the mirror. I couldn't believe I actually had eyes for a change; my own eyes. I wasn't an illusion, I was real! At least, I hoped I was.

Let's face it! I didn't know what was going on, or how the hell I even came back. I knew for sure that I was a lab rat to whoever did it, and I wasn't ready to face that.

I popped my head out of the door, to see Shun waiting for me with a pair of forest green boots. He placed them in my hands, then motioned me back into the room. Once done, he shut the door. I made a mental note to repay him later, then put on the boots.

I looked in the mirror; everything was just my style. I smiled of satisfaction, and exited. I saw Shun, again, who lead me back to the room. The guys could only smile in approval, and as for the girls, they were groaning at my taste. "I don't wanna hear it! Pink isn't my color!" I stated. I saw Dan, about to start laughing, once more. "I hear even a snicker out of you, I swear to God, I will hit you so hard, you'll wake up in a morgue!" I threatened. Dan was taken aback, and was silenced. Seriously, wasn't in the mood, so I really didn't care.

It only took five minutes for Runo and Dan to start a fight, so it didn't matter much.

We sat in Marucho's living room. Quite a room, considering the fact that part of it had a panda habitat in it. His mom's quite the collector! The walls were the same golden color as the rest of the house, along with the gray-almost silver bricks as the floor. The seats were all gold with red cushions, and the coffee table in front of us was huge. I made another mental note to talk to whoever designed the place; it was amazing.

"I wonder how you came back; I mean, you're your own person, now! I can only wonder how." Dan stated. I somehow saw that coming.

"Yeah, you and I both!" Is what I wanted to say, but instead, I just shrugged. I'm not a talkative type of guy, so I'd keep quiet, unless I felt I needed to speak up.

Shun had decided to pitch in. "Masquerade could still be fake; it might not be the same as the first time, but we still don't know." He complimented.

Runo turned to Dan. "He's right! I mean, he wasn't exactly real in the first place, someone could have just recreated him, and gave him all his memories of us." She added.

My head went down. I was really hoping that it was real, and that I could finally live as a human; I was tired of the whole spirit existence with no physical form. I did want to stay human!

I felt a hand on my shoulder. I only then remembered that there were more people in the room, and that they were all probably staring at me, concerned.

I turned my head, and saw Alice sitting by me, looking as sympathetic as ever, with Alpha Hydranoid on her shoulder. A hand on mine made me turn to see Julie, staring at me with an identical look. Looking forward, I noticed how everyone was looking; regret, anguish, and concern, once again in their eyes. I looked down, again. "M-Masquerade?..." Dan questioned.

I didn't bother to speak for awhile, I knew they wouldn't get how it was for the facts about me to be true. After a couple minutes, that only seemed like forever, I began to explain. "Really would've rather not hear that." I informed them. I could feel them depress somewhat. "It's just...before, I didn't have my own body, but I had my own spirit. I was a piece of Alice's personality, and I only had an appearance; it was never real! To see I have my own body and soul is a relief on my shoulders, but to know that there's a possibility that it's all a hoax, it doesn't really make me feel all that happy. There was always one thing I was jealous over because you had it, and I didn't; you had your own lives, while mine was limited to almost nothing, even if I could do all that." I finished.

I didn't know why I was letting emotion show, but I knew later on that it was the anxiety that was running through my head; too much to take in too little time. Because I knew it might not be completely true, it made me nervous about what was going on. And because I didn't want it to be true, it saddened me greatly to actually think about it.

Back to reality!

They were silent for a little while. It's not like I expected them to understand, or to be sad, but apparently, I just gave them that effect. I wanted to stay were I could feel things, where I could talk to someone other than myself, where I could explore, everything! I know I've done these things before, but I never was like anybody else, so it made things hard.

Back when I was against them, I knew the whole time I was Alice, and truthfully, the negative spirit was the only thing that kept me working for Naga. He promised me that I could have my own body so I wouldn't have to rely on Alice's. It was a shot I was willing to take, and realized later on that there was no point.

I don't know if I regretted what happened next, or if I was thankful.

In the next couple of seconds, I felt Alice wrap her arms around me in a gentle embrace. I was a bit surprised, but at the moment, I was still in a depressed state. I laid my head on her shoulder, simply because I felt too limp to do anything else.

Everyone was silent, and I just knew from that they didn't have a clue on how to help. I knew how they could if it were true, but I was pretty sure it be near impossible to try, and ask. Besides, I wanted people to just be quiet for now, I didn't want to hear anyone say anything, more or less, I rather not have heard the conversation.

Right there I just closed my eyes, and prayed that I was part of some kid's dream.

i didnt want it to sound too sappy, so plz, no flames.