Chapter 24- Kaito

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A/N: If you don't know what I own, go review before the test.

Happy 8 days left till Easter as I write this.

Enjoy.

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I cautiously look around the corner.

Nobody.

"Hurry, I'm not willing to wait an hour just to see you look around the corner, although you do look prettier this way. You're not frowning."

"Well, I don't want seen yet."

"That's not the point." I huff, then drag him to the next alleyway, counting on the deserted street to stay that way.

At least we're only a few houses away from mine.

I peek again, then run faster, right next to my window. Quickly, I pull myself up the rope hidden by the vines in front of them, to my balcony, which is open. I slide in, Piko behind me.

Damn I need to get a new doorknob.

I rattle the dumb thing, as my parents' car isn't there, as loudly as I can. I blast it open with my foot after deciding that it would take too long.

"Someone's going to make this house a pile of matchsticks before we're even down the steps."

"Am not."

"Well, maybe before your parents return."

We clattered down the steps, then I froze, making Piko stop behind me.

Miku and Rin are on my couch.

Miku's hair is a brighter shade of teal, Rin's is still that orange blondish colour, and for some reason, I realise that Miku's hair is a bit wavy. Rin's bow is her biggest white one, accompanied with some new clips that have an orange on each of them. Miku's wearing that same green dress from the last time I saw her, and Rin's wearing a white dress with little rims of orange glitter.

Miku just blinks, then turns to the blank spot to her right and begins talking avidly and worridly to the air, whereas Rin swears and jumps straight out of her chair, knocking over a side table. Piko snorts, his face hidden, and shuffles his feet.

You didn't think about this, huh?

Nope, I had no clue they were going to be here at all, unless it's a Saturday...

I looked at the calendar and noted that it was Saturday.

Oops.

I bit my lip.

Rin was dusting orange sparkles onto the carpet, whereas Miku was speaking in an odd pattern, arguing with something. Then, she huffed, and leaned back, her face in a frustrated pout.

I didn't think anything was wrong with her, but now I'm not sure.

Rin, however, looks normal, shaking and dropping her little handbag every five seconds.

"Err..." It's Rin, as Miku's murmuring to the air still.

"Hey." Piko nods to her, hands in the pockets of his shorts, his wings folded up.

"H-hi. Y-you-you're G-Gumi's... friend?" Her voice was faint.

"Yeah... Hey, Miku." He nodded at Miku, who looked up, blinking for a moment, before brightening and sitting up straighter.

"Oh! Hey, Piko." Then, she whipped around to her right as her face turned red. She slapped the air, which actually did produce a sound, to Rin's and my shock.

"That's what you get for that, perv," she said, turning away. Then, a few moments later, she turns back and mutters, "You can't, because I won't let you."

Then, Rin stuttered, "Err... Miku... has this... invisible boyfriend... and she sort of likes to make it obvious..."

"He's the world's biggest pervert when it comes to me, but he actually cares and likes me a lot. I think I know why only I can see him- because, since only Piko's been to the Dead Realm beside me- I met him there-" Piko nodded, which surprised me- "Only those who have been to that realm can see him, because that's where he's still tethered to. If he were to destroy his link to this world, he wouldn't be able to replace it unless I came back to the Realm, which is nearly impossible unless you're dying. And he can't destroy his link to the Dead Realm, or the DR for short, unless he gets special permission or help. It takes the gods' permission to let someone return with full memories, the body they had when they died, and possibly- in our case- a beau. It's more likely to be a yes, as we're still waiting for approval."

"Why is it the both of you?" I was curious.

"Because, unless Kaito breaks his link with me, I'll be affected by any decision that is put on him. Sort of like your bond," she said to me and Piko, making me blink.

She smiled. "Everyone in the DR can choose to wait in line to catch up with the day's events at the Vision Well. Nobody's small enough to dive in, so it's just for looking to see what's happened recently since you've last looked. I was one of the few who could look into the past, so I saw everything about your bond, the trial..." Her woice wavered, and she shuddered. "Everything, in short. I also was lucky enough to see some of your future, Gumi, which is really..." She cut off, then tightened her lips and struggled not to cry, but she was doing so anyways.

She shut her eyes and leaned back into the air to her right, where she remained, propped up on her 'Kaito'. Her hair moved in ripples, as though someone was gently stroking it.

I wondered on a certain idea, and tried to see the scene through Piko, since he'd been to the DR. But I was still met with failure. He smiled apolegetically.

"There's really strict rules concerning the DR, Gumi. I can't show you because you haven't been there, and as I don't want you killed before my eyes, you have to wait until the gods give their approval or disapproval."

"Wait... can't I just ask?"

"Well, it's going to have to get approved anyways, and as you've never even seen Kaito, and as you only know a tiny bit about him, it's less likely to get approved. Miku and I were special to you- Miku's your best friend, and I'm your boyfriend, so that's why it was almost instantly approved. Kaito's just Miku's beau, so she'll have to ask- which she already has- or she can break rules and pull him over anyways, which could result in a certain punishment. Or..." He frowned.

"Or, I could give you enough of Kaito's background so you could understand him well enough as if you'd met him, and possibly, your asking could work, albeit in a roundabout way?" Miku smiled slyly, almost smugly, at Piko, who snorted.

"That could take months, and by then, the decision could be made. We have, at best, a week."

"Aww..."

"Sorry, Miku, but we just don't have time."

"Err... is- umm...is it possible to... just explain it?" Rin's voice is a faint whisper by the time she's done, and she's sunk so far down in her seat that she could be overlooked.

"Maybe..."

"Uhh... can I just ask something?"

"Yeah?"

"Why are you two- three- here today? You knew I was..." I trailed off lightly.

"Well, I had this premonition, so I dragged Rin over here about fifteen minutes ago, and we've been waiting."

"Premonition?"

"Yeah, it was last night."

"No... you have them now?"

"Yeah."

"That's..." I whistled lowly as Piko raised an eyebrow at me. "I had no idea that that could- or would- happen."

"Yeah, it's kinda odd, but then again-" She waved her hand at Piko, then at herself. "There's so many odd things happening, next thing you know, there'll be a state of ice cream and unicorns." I hid my smile, but I still snorted. Piko grinned, his face down. "No, not for you," she said to Kaito, or to her right. When she looked back at me, she smiled. "He has this obsession with ice cream, you can't even tell him to shut up once he's on topic," she said, getting louder and louder. Then, she shoved a part of the air down into the sofa, which was likely Kaito's head. Then, "That's better."

Then, Rin slid onto the floor, her face nearly purple. When we all looked over at her, she did turn purple. Then, she slid back up into her seat, averting her eyes.

"So... what do we do?"

"What do we do?" Miku grinned devilishly, which made me put my face in my hands.

"I know that look," I muttered, and Piko groaned.

"Don't tell me we're-"

"Going shopping!" Miku leapt out of her seat, then jumped on her feet. Rin brightened, her face was less red, and she was smiling.

"Yes! There was a special on that really pretty orange dress, Gumi, you'll love it-"

"Oh, and there was a really cool pair of sneakers, they're for this amazing game that you love-"

"And there's this awesome backpack that has all these chibi stickers of Kingdom Hearts characters, it's soooo cute-"

"Then there's this really adorable shirt, it's got custom stickers you can add onto it, there's even a carrot, since you like them so much-"

"Hold on! We haven't even gotten bags. What are we gonna do with all our merch? I'm not carrying it," I complained, frowning.

Both girls grinned at each other, then pulled at least thirty bags out of their boots.

"Always be prepared," Miku said, grinning wider.

Both Piko and I groaned and facepalmed.

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