Disclaimers: I don't own anything but the game merchandise and this story. OTL The challenge, however, belongs to HawkRider.

A/N: I got time to update during the exam period. Yay! |D I have one more exam to go, I get a few days off, and then I go back to school. This is what I get for taking the spring semester; limited time that I can actually write stuff. OTL
I don't have much to say for this except that I feel like I kinda rushed this. Parts of this chapter I was okay with, but the other stuff I wish I could change… Damn you self-induced word limit! LOL!

Other than that, thanks for reading and reviewing! Please enjoy and R&R!


.: oo7 | Beauty | oo7 :.
~ Innocent Swan ~


"Are you kidding?"

"Where are we going?"

"Kairi!"

I shrugged my shoulders, but Aqua's glowering probably came from the fact that I was (hardly) keeping the smile off my face. "I was only asking…"

She rolled her eyes in exasperation before finalizing. "You're not going."

"But Aqua—"

"No, Kairi—Hey!" Aqua flinched when Terra's hand was suddenly on her head, tousling her perfectly done blue hair into a blue mess. I was both shocked and amused and didn't know if I wanted to laugh or not. Aqua, of course, was trying to get away from Terra's touch. "What are you doing? Terra!"

"Quit acting like a mom, Aqua," he suggested, messing Aqua's hair the more she resisted against him. It was weird… Terra and Aqua were already adults, but they were acting like kids as I watched them interact. I don't even act that childish with Sora and Riku… Do I? Terra continued. "I was joking about the 'date' thing, but give Kairi her freedom of choice. She's sixteen."

My older sister finally freed herself; scowling at the brunet as she fixed her hair. "Who do you think you are? You think you can just come here and do whatever you want—?"

"Aqua, please?" Hugging her arm tightly, I attempted to give Aqua my best impersonation of Naminé's big doe eyes. Seriously, I don't know how Naminé does it, but that wasn't the point. So I kind of took the 'date' comment seriously, but I needed (cue in desperately needed) to spend more time with Terra if I wanted him to notice me as a girl and not as 'Aqua's little sister'; I just had to! "Remember our conversation this morning? And you just said you didn't want to leave me here alone."

That's right, Aqua: you dug yourself a hole with that last statement. She was mulling over her choices; it was written all over her face with her brows furrowed, eyes narrowed (most likely directed at me), and mouth pressed into a frown. I gave her an innocent grin when she looked down at me for a few minutes before glancing at the brunet at our doorway; Terra crossing his arms and smirking smugly in her direction… Couldn't he just drop the rivalry with my sister for one minute? If he did, we'd be out the door by now!

After another moment of furtive glances, glares, and smiles, Aqua finally conceded defeat and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Fine…"

Ecstatic, I jumped Aqua for a hug and repeatedly thanked her even though she found it bothersome instead. Prying away, I beamed widely at my sister before running up the stairs in a hurry. "I'll be a minute, Terra!"

He only chuckled whereas Aqua avoided eye contact with the brunet. "Take your time, Kairi."

What to wear? What to wear? Nothing I was pulling out of my closet seemed right. Why was it so hard to pick something to wear when this wasn't even a date?

…I still had no idea what Terra and I would do today. Somehow, that little piece of unknown knowledge was exciting!

Giggling to myself, I quickly scavenged through my closet before pulling out an outfit I was okay with. It consisted of a white short-sleeve jean jacket over a pink tank top. To go with the look, I wore skin-tight black shorts that reached just above my knees underneath a navy blue skirt and black shoes. I decided to tie up the upper half of my hair into a small ponytail so it wouldn't get in my face. Looking at myself in the mirror, I thought it was pretty good! It was feminine, but still boyish enough for my tastes. Hopefully Terra would notice…

I grabbed my small messenger bag with my wallet and other necessaries before skipping out of my bedroom. I was near the stairs – brushing my bangs to the side of my face – when I heard Terra and Aqua speaking. I couldn't help but freeze in my spot while very imaginative thoughts sparked in my mind. Were they fighting? Arguing? Maybe they were just glaring at each other. How long did I take to get ready anyways?

"So how's work?" Terra's voice cut through my thoughts and I decided to listen. He didn't sound scornful, but that didn't mean Aqua wouldn't be. "I'm surprised Xemnas isn't working you hard."

"He knows I go to school, and I find it strange how you're his brother; he's nothing like you." At this point, I silently slapped my forehead because Aqua was just begging for a fight.

"Isn't it the other way around? How I'm nothing like him?" Terra scoffed and I heard feet shuffling for a quick second. Terra was probably adjusting the way he was standing. "Why are you comparing me to him anyways? You don't know him."

I waited for Aqua to reply and I assumed she pushed herself off the wall. "Maybe I don't, but at least he respects me for what I can do; unlike you."

There was a brief pause of silence and I was torn between breaking up what was happening between the two people I really cared about or seeing where this might go. To be honest (and just a tad bit guilty), I was curious about this relationship between my sister, Terra, and his older brother; especially after Terra and Aqua had that little spat a month ago. It was stupid to be treating this like one of those soap opera moments you watch on the television, but I couldn't help it!

"Xemnas doesn't see me as a liability and treats me like his equal," Aqua continued and I decided to sit down on the first top step of the staircase away from view. I couldn't see them myself, but at least I was comfortable where I was. I know I'm a bad person for eavesdropping on this conversation, but I'm the little sister here; it's what we do! Aqua whispered loud enough for me to hear. "Not everyone can have fun like you, Terra. I have responsibilities now…"

My heart twisted a little and I placed a hand over it in regret. I knew better than anyone how hard Aqua worked to make both our lives comfortable after Mom and Dad passed away. She was still in her second year of high school and I was just starting the seventh grade when the accident happened… Namine's parents – Auntie and Uncle – did everything they could to help us financially until Aqua was out of grade school, but as soon as she finished, my older sister decided to take all the responsibilities and worked.

It wasn't fair how Aqua did everything on her own; working long hours or staying at the college until midnight. She even changed what she wanted to do in life just because she wanted to make sure I was financially secure for the future. It was always Aqua's dream to become a professional ballet dancer, but because she had to take care of me, Aqua had to drop that dream for something more stable. This was why I wanted Aqua to be happy; I owed her that much after practically burdening her life.

Biting my bottom lip, I stood up from my seat – ready to head downstairs – when Terra spoke up solemnly after a pregnant pause. "…Do you remember what I said to you at the studio?"

Aqua dryly laughed; her tone filled with small amounts of sarcasm. "How could I forget? You insulted me in front of Xemnas by saying my dancing hadn't changed since I was a kid; that I still waddled like a penguin across the dance floor."

Terra sighed long and hard before agreeing. "And for that, I'm sorry, Aqua. I honestly didn't mean to say that. It just…old habits die hard you know?"

"Then what were you planning to say?" Aqua interrogated with a steady amount of accusation. However, I could tell she was really bothered by Terra's previous allegation and was only bracing herself defensively in case Terra tried to verbally attack her again. "Something worse than that?"

"No, I…" The brunet whispered. Curious, I tiptoed down the stairs as quietly as I could when there was another pause of silence. Once I caught a glimpse of Aqua's back, my eyes scanned for Terra and I couldn't help but stare in awe. His face was unguarded and gentle; around Aqua no less. He was leaning against the wall adjacent to Aqua while staring at her sympathetically with a slight frown, but his blue eyes…there was something else there. "I didn't mean to say that. You were more like a…a swan than a penguin: graceful and beautiful—"

"I'm done!" I happily chirped and jumped down the last flight of stairs with a smile. Whatever trance Terra and Aqua were in was broken once I appeared. They quickly ripped their eyes away from each other, changed their body language, and looked at me as if that conversation between them never happened (even though I know it did). Still, I decided to play dumb as I bounced towards Terra with hands behind my back. "So! Where are we going?"

Terra smirked. "Anywhere you want."

"Awesome! Let's go then!" Turning on my heel to address Aqua, I gave her a small hug as Terra opened the door. "I'll call you later, Sis! I promise not to stay out late."

Aqua returned my embrace before moving back and nodding her head. "I'm counting on you. I can't trust Terra with that."

"…I'm still here." Terra narrowed his eyes at my older sister, but she merely rolled her eyes and that caused me to giggle.

As we all exited the house – Aqua locking the door behind us – Terra and I began making our way to his motorcycle as Aqua started walking towards the car parked in the driveway. She was a little reluctant to let me ride on Terra's bike (of which, I recently learned he had affectionately named it Earthshaker), but I reassured her that I was used to riding on it by now… Of course, that made her frown in realization and I knew I'd get another scolding once I got home later. I waved her off as she finally disappeared down the street before I focused all my attention on Terra.

He started the engine of his bike and was already wearing his helmet, though the face shield was lifted. Terra handed me his extra helmet and nodded. "Get on." I stood there for a few seconds, playing with the helmet in my hands before shyly looking at Terra. When he realized I hadn't taken my seat, he glanced at me curiously. "What? You're finally scared of how I drive?"

I shook my head with a small giggle before lightly blushing while looking at my shoes. "Terra, um…"

"Hmm?"

"What…do you think of my outfit? Is it okay?"

He was confused with my unexpected question, but Terra answered with a smile regardless. "They look nice, Kairi. It's cute."

All I did was smile back in thanks before putting on my helmet and hopping on the back of his bike. Terra concentrated all his attention on driving as we sped off, but I was unconsciously tightening my hold around him. Terra has been calling me cute ever since I was little and no matter what I did, I still appeared 'cute' to him while Aqua… They were always fighting with every encounter they had, but somehow, Terra was able to go from calling her a 'tomboy' to 'beautiful' when Aqua wasn't even trying to change his mind.

Something like that…it was unfair.