Me: Hi! Here's chapter 3~ The song is Lullaby from Noir OST. Enjoy~

Edited - 5/8/2024

Beta'd by IHaveNoIdea8.

….

After the ferry left Sync in Daath Bay it took me to Grand Chokmah. I spent the entire trip thinking about why I felt the way I did.

After thinking it through, I decided to go back to the ferry and told them I needed to go to Keterburg Bay. After I boarded I leaned against the railing overlooking the water as the ferry took me to Keterburg Bay. I decided to stay inside the ferry so I could avoid the cold for a while longer. So I started writing a letter, I needed to send a message to her and let her know everything going fine. I got out for just a bit calling on a message bird, placed the letter on its back watching it fly away I turned around and went back inside shivering from the air getting colder the closer we got to Keterburg.

When I got off the boat I was welcomed by the cold winter air surrounding the Keterburg area. I wasn't bothered very much by how cold it was; I was sort of used to it. I visited Keterburg... Kind of. I don't remember all of my childhood, or my life before Astor found me but I just shrug it off and go forward. Who needs a past anyway?

I decided since I was in the Keterburg area, I might as well take the chance to relax and enjoy the hot springs, so I made my way to the Keterburg Hotel.

After I paid the lady at the front desk, I went to one of the changing rooms leading to the hot springs area. I quickly put on my swimsuit. It was fairly simple: the top had strings tied around my neck and back, and the bottom was a skirt that was held together by two small ribbons. The color of the suit was a nice sea foam green that contrasted nicely with my blue hair and eyes.

When I was ready, I walked out of the changing room to see Luke and the others already relaxing.

"I see I'm not the only one trying to relax and enjoy life," I said, causing them to look up at me in surprise. Jade, however, remained unphased by my sudden appearance.

"Kairi!" Luke shouted happily before he jogged over to me, smiling ear-to-ear.

I chuckled at how adorable Luke acted when he saw me. He did seem like a brother to me so I hoped he looked at me as a sister.

"Jeeze... Luke acts like Kairi's his sister or something..." It was almost like Anise had read my mind.

"Now, now, Anise. You're not jealous are you?"

"Colonel!" Anise shouted, "I am not jealous of her!"

I chuckled at Jade and Anise's conversation.

"Kairi! Kairi!" Somebody squeaked. I looked down to see Mieu jumping up and down at my feet, trying to get my attention, so I bent down to speak to him. I couldn't suppress a smile; he was just so cute.

"Yes, Mieu?" I asked him.

"I did just as you ask! I stayed by Master's side!" I noticed everyone's eyes burning through me, but I kept my smile on Mieu.

"And I'm so grateful for that, my dear Mieu."

Then Mieu's eyes lit up suddenly. "Why don't you join Master and the others?" he asked me, staring at me with his giant blue orbs. "Master really missed you."

"Mieu!" Luke groaned, covering his face in embarrassment.

I was taken aback but felt warmth hit my chest "Aww... Don't be embarrassed about that Luke." I told him. I stood up patting Luke's shoulder smiling the whole time. "I missed you too. How about this: if I join on this...adventure of yours that you're on... You have to call me 'Sis'. But not all the time though." I added. "So what do you say, 'Bro'?"

I grinned when I saw the other's faces after asking that of Luke; they were all shocked, except for Jade. Is that guy even able to show emotion?

"Uhhh... Sure?" Luke answered, "Welcome to the team... 'Sis'." His cheeks turn pink out of embarrassment while rubbing behind his head.

When he called me Sis, I couldn't help myself anymore. I swiftly tackled him into a hug, squealing and saying how adorable he was the whole time. After I was done I let go of him, not wanting to embarrass him too much.

"So let's all relax people!" I shouted and ran over to one of the pools and jumped in, splashing Anise, Natalia, and Tear, causing all of them to yell out in surprise.

….

After everyone was done relaxing and we left the hot springs, one of the ladies at the front desk told us that they were holding Dist the Reaper in one of their rooms; apparently, he had collapsed in the plaza.

Jade told us to leave Dist to him before entering the room he was supposedly in. I don't want to know what he did to Dist in that room... It sounded horrifying, especially when Dist started screaming.

That's when I walked away. I stood outside waiting for them to finish. Then I saw Luke walk out of the Hotel.

"There you are Kairi." He said, "Hey want to look around with me?"

"Don't forget about me too Master!" Mieu squeaked, jumping up and down happily.

"Okay, I want to check out that igloo over there." he pointed over at the igloo nearby, not even waiting for me to respond.

"Sure let's go," I said and walked over to the one he was pointing at with Luke and Mieu following behind.

We walked inside it to see one of those weird 'Ant Lion Man' people. I remembered seeing one in Chesedonia too.

"You come to listen voice from pipe?" he asked, pointing to what appeared to be a pipe made of ice in the middle of the small room.

"You can hear voices from inside here?" Mieu asked the Ant Lion Man.

"They talk lots!"

"Come on. There's no way there's anyone inside there." Luke said, with a disbelieving look on his face.

"No one inside. Just filled with voices!" the Ant Lion Man said.

"What the heck does that mean?"

"You try listen?"

Then suddenly Mieu's and Luke's voices filled the room from the pipe. I had to look at both of them to make sure they weren't the ones speaking.

"Master, are you okay? Isn't the fighting wearing you down?"

"Shut up! I said I'm fine! If it's kill or be killed, then dammit, I'm killing! End of story! You got it?"

"Mieuuuu..."

"It's me! It's Master and me!" Mieu said excitedly, making me smile at how cute it was.

Luke was speechless, and I was confused about how it was possible voices could be heard from that.

"It mysterious to me, too." Ant Lion Man said, noticing our faces.

"We can listen to everyone's voices any time! It's amazing!" Mieu said excitedly

"Yes it sure is amazing, I wonder what other voices we can hear," I said, just as excited as Mieu.

"How does this work? What the heck?" Luke was still very confused.

"Here can listen all!"

"We can choose what we want to hear?" Luke asked. "Wow. Maybe it's some sort of playback machine."

"Let's listen!" Mieu shouted. "Listen! Listen! Listen!"

Luke went over to the small pipe the voices had been coming from.

"Hmm... I've never heard this before." Luke said. Suddenly all three of us heard a song being sung. I knew what it was instantly; it was me singing that time in Aramis Cave.

The Snow in the air

To sing me a lullaby

My winter, come hither to me

The dark nights to come

So kiss me for good-bye

The grace of the god land is near to you

I felt I had to step out of the place, taking a deep breath. I waited until Luke and Mieu walked out

"What did you walk out for, Kairi?" Luke asked me, a frown on his features.

"I'm just freaked out about hearing my own voice..." I answered looking down, causing my bangs to fall over my eyes.

The others walked over to us at that point, but I didn't realize it.

"But your voice is beautiful though..." Luke said very confused about how depressed I looked, "Do you hate your voice or something?"

"No..." I replied, "It's just... It's not mine though..."

"But how can you say that?" Luke protested, "You just said that it was. That voice singing was your voice!"

I snapped my head at Luke with a glare that could kill. "I said that's not my voice! You don't understand! That voice isn't mine! It doesn't belong to me in the first place!" I stopped glaring at him when I saw him looking down, dejected. I sighed and put my hands on his shoulders to make him look at me.

"Look, Luke... I'm sorry about yelling at you like that, but there are some things better left unknown." I put my hands back to my sides when I noticed the others giving us confused looks, Jade just looked amused.

"Huh?" I said, wanting to ask them where they came from. "Oh, hi guys."

"What was that, about?" Anise spoke up, curious but confused.

"...It's nothing to worry your little head, Anise.

We headed back to Keterburg Hotel and I told the others I'd stay at the Hotel to rest while the others walked over to the Governor's Residence.

I laid down on the bed in the room I paid for. I fell asleep after thinking about a certain mask-wearing God-General.

….

Morning

I woke up, stretching and yawning. I went in the shower, cleaned up, got out dried off put on my normal outfit. I still wonder why I still wear this outfit? I'm not a God-General...not like her.

I decided to check where the others were, so I left my room and walked to the elevator going to the 1st floor. When the elevator doors opened to the first floor, I was greeted by Jade standing with his hands in his pockets. He looked like he was waiting for someone. I decided to walk over to him anyway, stifling a yawn.

"Are you waiting for someone, Jade?" I asked tilting my head curiously.

"You know curiosity killed the cat," he said pushing his glasses up while smirking.

"I can't help but be curious... especially when it comes to someone like you Jade," I mumbled to myself hoping he didn't catch what I said. I wasn't so lucky.

"I think it should be the other way around Kairi...I'm actually curious about you."

He looked at me seriously, which made me nervous.

"What do you mean you're curious about me...? I'm no one special." I shrugged hoping he would let it go.

"Nonsense, you see I had time to look you up and I was surprised to find that there's no person named Kairi in Auldrant. So tell me Kairi who you really are."

I knew he would try something like this, he is Jade after all. I sighed softly, knowing I couldn't keep dodging his questions forever.

"You're right, Jade, there's no one named Kairi in Auldrant. Promise me you will not tell anyone about what I tell you... they should figure it out on their own."

"You have my word Kairi," he smirked when he said my name; it irked me to no end.

I huff "I'm just like Luke."

"So I was right then; you're a replica. But the question is: who is your original?"

I turned around, frustrated with him already. He didn't have any right to ask me all these questions. It really pissed me off.

"I'm not saying; it'll be obvious the more you think about it... But someone like you will figure it out. Now if you excuse me I'm going back to bed to rest some more before tomorrow. Sleep well, Jade."

I walked back to the elevator and pressed the button that would take me back to my room. When I was standing in the elevator I added "And don't be too harsh on Luke when he comes back 'kay? Night~"

He seemed slightly shocked when I said this. I couldn't hold back a giggle when the doors closed. Who wouldn't smile seeing thy Jade Curtiss looking shocked? It never happened, so I'm savoring it.