Hello all! Here's the next installment of Running Circles! Sorry for the wait, I had a huge report due... But it's on track now, and I am all set, school-wise.

Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts and I most likely never will. Now excuse me while I cry over crushed dreams.


A blast of light streams into my eyes and rouses me from my sleep. With a yawn, I sit up and smile at Zexion, who is turning on the lamp. "Good morning, dear brother!"

He gives me the 'are-you-crazy' look and responds, "Since when were you in such a good mood?"

"Oh," I respond, sliding out of bed. "Just since I had something to look forward to." I bounce over to the calendar posted on my wall and cross off another day. I was getting steadily closer to the square with colorful drawings and doodles decorating it - the winter dance. It had been over a week since Demyx asked me, and I to day I was excited would be a grievous understatement. I smile again and walk down the stairs, followed by Zexion.

"Oh, I see," he says in a teasing tone. "Rain's in loooove!"

I scowl and retort, "Shut it." No doubt blushing furiously, I tune my brother out and focus on the day's schedule.

"And don't deny it! You can't even get rid of me today, remember?" he taunts, stealing an apple.

Right, Zexion was coming in to school today for the math test. Great. Normally I loved the lessened workload, but today I was having doubts. As I walked upstairs to change, he called after me, "Demyx and Rain, sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-" I slam the door in his face, mentally sighing. Zexion was so calm and collected 90 percent of the time, but when he loosened up...

"First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in a baby carriage!"

...He was really annoying. Just like a normal older brother, right?

I roll my eyes at him as I exit, fully changed, and prepare to go out the door. "Goodbye, Zexy!"

He scurries after me, protesting, "Don't call me that!" He immediately laughs and elbows me in the side when he catches up.

"You're in rare form," I comment.

"So are you."

I giggle a little. "Touche."

"See, that's exactly what I mean. Rain never giggles."

"I just did! Liar."

"It's a saying!"

"Your face is a saying."

"...That made no sense whatsoever."

I giggle again, amazed at how normal our banter was. "I know."

Zexion shakes his head at me, pretending to be truly astonished at my stupidity. "Okay then..."

I glance up as we enter the school, scanning the hallways for someone I know. I see Kairi talking with Namine, Riku and Sora arguing about something or another, and Roxas having a quiet conversation with Axel and Xion. Xion looks up as we pass by and waves. "Hey guys!"

I smile and give a short wave back. "Hey."

As I walk over, I see Xion give Zexion an extra smile. And then... Zexion smiled back. What was this? Why was my brother so unusually responsive? I must investigate this more later...

"Rain? Do you want to go shopping with me tomorrow? You know, for dresses for the dance?" Xion's voice snaps me out of my thoughts and reintroduces me to reality.

"Oh... Sure!" I respond, carefully watching Xion and Zexion. "That okay with you, Zexion?"

"Yeah, yeah, of course." His eyes are on Xion... I'm sensing a pattern here. Sneaking a glance at Axel, I find him looking at the same thing. He smirks and mouths, 'In love'.

I barely hide a laugh and announce, "Well, I'm gonna go."

Axel adds, "Me too." We walk some distance down the hall, ignoring Xion and Zexion's questions of where we were going. As soon as we are out of sight, Axel bluntly states, "I think your brother is in love with my friend."

"I think your friend is in love with my brother." I respond, already concocting a scheme to get the two together.

"We need a plan," he says, obviously on the same page as me.

"Indeed." A lightbulb goes off in my head, and I lean in closer to conspiratorially whisper, "Okay, so here's my plan..."


It was a long day of school. A math test, shortly followed by a not-so-pop quiz in science. Well, it was supposed to be a pop quiz, but the professor obviously does not understand that giving one every single Friday ruins the surprise. It took forever for lunch to come around, but it finally did. As I collapse in a comfy chair, I hear Xion sit in one beside me.

"Are you going to help me with these books or what?"

I groan and stand up, taking some of the books that Xion graciously shoves into my arms. "Coming! Geez." She just rolls her eyes and points to a table.

"We're labeling these. C'mon!" I sluggishly follow her, muttering something about stupid geometry tests.

"So," Xion starts, keeping her eyes on her work. "You still up for dress shopping tomorrow?"

"Yeah, sure." I respond, still inwardly laughing over my and Axel's plan.

"Great! How bout I meet you at the store at... Say 10ish?"

"What store?" I ask out of habit, even though I know fully where she's going.

"Why, my favorite store, of course. Don't tell me you've forgotten?"

I shake my head at my friend with a smile. "Wouldn't dream of it."


After my chat with Xion and a few extremely boring classes, I finally make it to my favorite time of the day. And it's Friday, which makes it even better!

Yes, I am talking about music class. And since it's Friday, we all get to perform. I've been practicing all week, getting my piece just right. I find my usual seat next to Demyx and give him a smile as he struggles to tune his guitar. "Give that to me," I order, watching him mangle the instrument. I base the notes off of my violin and adjust the strings.

"Thanks," he says, now straightening his page of music.

"It was for the poor instrument, Demyx. You were murdering it."

He opens his mouth to retort, but is cut off by the teacher calling the class up one by one for our performances. I settle into my seat and wait for my turn. Finally, after most of the others have gone, I get my chance. Taking a deep breath, I calm my nerves and start a slow, yet hopeful piece. My face is blank, but I am feeling an enormous range of emotions. Why? I'm playing my old lullaby. The song comes to an end, and I draw out the last note, then bow. I struggle to keep a calm front, but succeed in suppressing my emotions for the rest of class. By that time, my brief memory flash is over.

"Bye Rain!" Demyx calls, walking backwards through the hallway.

"Bye Demyx. And watch out for that locker!"

He turns around just in time to avoid a nasty collision with the metal storage unit. "Thanks!"

I just roll my eyes at him and continue on my way. I exit the school and immediately shiver. It was definitely winter, and I didn't have a jacket. Well, I technically had one, but it was so small it looked ridiculous. I'd rather draw attention as the stupid kid who forgot her jacket than as the girl whose clothes don't fit.

I shiver again and pull my arms around myself for warmth. I hate winter. It was so darn cold! At least I'll be inside for a while as soon as I make it to the coffee shop. I suddenly realize that I never met up with Zexion after lunch. I should have probably said goodbye... Ah, whatever, he's a big boy. I bend my head down as another gust of wind chills me, and briefly wonder how strange I would look if I sprinted to the shop. Eventually concluding that I would draw massive amounts of attention running down the street, I decide to instead just bear the cold.

The chiming of bells announce my arrival, and I step gratefully into the heated store. As expected, the tables are crowded with people enjoying a warm cup of coffee in the equally warm area. There is a line that stretches almost to the door, and I sigh at the prospect of such a busy shift. Larxene is already working up a storm, calling out finished orders every couple of seconds. As I slip behind the counter, she mutters, "About time." I barely have time to feel insulted before she pushes me towards the cash register.

"We need more help around here," I comment, stirring a drink while simultaneously taking another order.

"I actually agree with you, for once." Larxene pauses to shout out another name, and I accept one man's money with a nod. "There's no way we can handle all this by ourselves." She pauses again as my attention is forced to turn to a coffee-seeking businesswoman. "Maybe I'll hire someone."

"That would be good." I shake my head to keep my hair out of my eyes and read off some numbers. "That's $3.21, please," I interject while facing a teenager. I can still hear bells ringing almost constantly, and the line grows even bigger. With a sigh, I return to my conversation with my coworker. "Very good, in fact."

Time flies by in a whirlwind of syrups and brews and cream, and before I know it my shift is well past done. Larxene lets out a heavy sigh as the shop finally empties, people having deemed it too late for caffeine. The night air rushes in as the last customer leaves, and I unconsciously shiver. My companion notices this and frowns while wiping the counter. "Where's your jacket?"

I mirror her frown and mutter, "Forgot it."

She huffs and spits, "That's just stupid. It's like 0 degrees out there!"

"I am fairly certain that it is not zero degrees outside."

"You know what I mean!"

I bite back a retort and remain quiet. The silence is abruptly broken by the sounds of shuffling and falling liquid. Larxene walks up to where I am picking up napkins and shoves a coffee cup at me. At my unspoken question, she says, "Well, I couldn't waste it!"

I accept the only slightly chilled drink with a slight smile. After we finally finish cleaning up, I glance at the clock and find that it is already time to close the shop. I had stayed for hours later than I should have... Zexion was going to flip. Larxene opens the door and demands, "You coming?" I follow her outside and hear the jingling of keys as she locks the door. I wrap my arms around myself in the cold, and she pulls her black jacket closer to her body. "You better bring your jacket next time," she demands, breath fogging the air.

"Fine," I answer shortly, trying to stop my shivers.

She rolls her eyes and announces, "There is no way that you are walking home in this. You'll freeze to death, and then I won't have any chance of keeping the store running." She walks over to her car and stops, seeming to think. "I'm driving you home."

I stare at her. Is she serious? "Fine, if you don't want to... Guess I'll just have to hire two new workers, as you're turning into a popsicle."

"No, I just..." I trail off, unsure of how to finish. "Thanks?"

"So grateful," she mutters, opening the driver's seat door. I slip into the passenger seat and give her quick directions to my apartment complex.

"Right here, and then a left at the next road. The place is called Oblivion Apartments.

"Oh, I know where it is. Marluxia used to live there."

The car falls silent after that last remark, and it becomes extremely awkward.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"If you don't say something, I'm kicking you out of the car."

Larxene's random outburst surprises me a bit, and a smiled slightly. "Something," I smirk.

She rolls her eyes at me and suddenly yells, "We're here, get out."

So thoughtful, as always. I thank her one more time (she blows it off with a scoff) and speed-walk to the door. I jump multiple steps at a time and finally make it to my and Zexion's room. I fish the key out of my pocket and let myself in.

Zexion looks up from the book he was reading. "You're late," he says flatly. Despite his uncaring tone, his eyes betrayed his true worry.

"Sorry, I got caught up at work."

"Are you okay? It's nearly pitch black and freezing outside."

"Yeah, Larxene drove me home."

"Well, that was nice of her."

"It was, actually."

After I assure Zexion that I am not a Rainsicle, we chat for a little while and Zexion retreats to finish his book. I yawn, eyes on the clock, finding that it was quite a bit past 10. "Zexion, did you eat?"

I get no response. "Zexion?" I try again. By this time I am certain that he is simply ignoring me, meaning that he probably didn't eat any dinner. "ZEXION!" I storm into his bedroom and snatch his book away. "No more reading until you eat."

"...What are you, some messed-up mother figure?"

I ignore his smart comment and point to the kitchen. "I'm making soup."

"I'm not hungry."

"Yes, you are!"

"How do you know?"

"I'm your freaking twin!"

"Are you physic?"

"Yes."

"What am I thinking?"

"Erm... Tacos?"

Zexion gives me a strange look, for the second time today I might add. "Tacos? Really Rain?"

I growl and pull his arm, attempting (and miserably failing) to take him to the kitchen. I finally give up, huffing in frustration. I put on my most innocent puppy-eyes look, the look that no older brother can ignore. "Please, Zexion?"

"...Fine." I smile and fix us some chicken noodle soup that Zexion quickly inhales. He then takes his book back and disappears into his room again, yelling, "You can have first shower!"

I comply gratefully, soon snuggling into my warm bed. Tomorrow was going to be a lot of fun, though I was worried about Xion and her energy that is revealed while shopping. Still, the downtime would be great. I quickly drift off into sleep, looking forward to the weekend.


So... How'd you like it? Review and tell me what you think. I greatly appreciate all constructive criticism and praise. As for flames... They will be used to fulfill Axel's pyromaniac desires.