She couldn't sleep last night. She tried many ways that would make a person fall within seconds ーshe even Moogled that shitー yet no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't close those confused [colour] hues. The most sleep she got was maybe two and a half hours of sleep. She just couldn't shake off the weird feeling she had from last night's challenge. Something wasn't right, and if she were to predict a future, she knew something was about to change ーor maybe it already has? If {Name} had to pick a time when it happened, it was probably when Lea was dragged away, maybe even before that. Sure, things were ok afterwards, but then it got odd once more when Vanitas found {Name} after being pulled away by a wave of people. She couldn't understand why ーmaybe she failed in keeping a tight hold on him?ー but something like that shouldn't cause such immense darkness.

Aside from that little...whatever tensed situation it was, it was even more awkward during the walk home until {Name} then decided to stay at her cousins that night, which was probably not a good idea now but it was at the time. She wasn't used to it anymore, those silent walks home. Although, even before that, those previous silent walks weren't as badly awkward or uncomfortable. Things just felt like, as if they were strangers walking the same way. {Name} was obviously being shut out. It was so bad she could feel that huge distance between them, like that weird illusion that no matter how fast you are walking beside or slightly behind a person, they were still miles from you.

Whatever happened to being glad to be beside you? ...or was that just me?

{Name} quickly shook her thoughts as she decided to get out of bed (accidentally taking Meeko by surprise as he jumped in alarm and followed after his owner), put on her robes and Totoro [1] slippers and head down to the kitchen where she was greeted by a strong aromatic smell of coffee with a hint of toasted toast. On the dining table was Aqua with her eyes glued to the TV as she watched the news with her dad who was by the lounge sofa, smoking one of his pipes with a coffee in hand, and by the kitchen sink doing the dishes was her aunt. As soon as {Name} stepped foot in the shared dining, kitchen and lounge room, all eyes glanced at her but only briefly.

"Morning, {Name}." Her uncle greeted, pipe in his hand.

"Good morning, {Name}, dear." Her aunt greeted with a warm smile, her eyes crinkled in sync.

"Good morning {N/Name}-Poo." Aqua greeted cheekily, before taking a sip of her green tea.

"...morning." {Name} mumbled, which caught everyone's attention once more.

"Is everything all right, dear?" Her aunt asked, pausing her task, looking at her niece with worried eyes. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, I, I...I got enough sleep." {Name} said, picking up her baby and snuggling him close to her like a teddy bear. "I'm fine, really."

"Are you sure?" Her aunt asked, taking off her gloves and wiping her hands on her apron. "Is something on your mind? If it's bothering you, perhaps you should talk about it?"

As much as {Name} loved her aunt to pieces, sometimes her worrisome state could be quite...intense. Since she was young, {Name} knew Aqua took that trait from her mother. Like mother, like daughter, right? And as much as {Name} appreciates her aunt's concern, she doesn't have the heart to push her aunt away.

"Iー"

"Darling, you're scaring the poor girl, tone down the intensity and stop worrying. The girl is fine." {Names'} uncle remarked, controlling his wife to remain calm, which {Name} was thankful for. A wink came her way when her uncle glanced at her before continuing to watch the news.

"But, dearー"

"Not another word, young lady." Her uncle scolded playfully, causing {Name} to giggle to herself. The little comment made her aunt blush before smiling gently to herself.

To strangers it might appear wrong for a man control his "woman" like that, but {Name} knew her aunt and uncle were traditional people, like an old married couple from a sitcom. It was fun to watch; a real live entertainment in your own house! But even though the two were joking around, there was an underlying message the two would know which to take seriously. Not getting another word out of it, {Names'} aunt continued to do the dishes whilst her uncle continued watching the news. Taking the opportunity, {Name} settled in the chair across from Aqua, readying her hand for a piece of toast.

"Plans for the day?" Aqua piped up to break the ice.

"What's the challenge?" {Name} retorted with a question, spreading her butter like raking a zen garden before gooping strawberry jam as if splatting red paint on a yellow canvas.

"Depends. It's a free day for those who need to do last minute shopping or baking, that sort of stuff." Aqua said, languidly watching the news over her shoulder with an arm on the head rest of the chair.

"Ah〜last minute fixer-upper." {Name} nods her head in understanding before taking a bite from her jam toast; feeding a pinchful of toast to Meeko. "Well...we still need to decorate our tree."

"Ha! Good luck." Aqua warned in a scoff. "Need any help?"

"Don't you have work?"

Aqua swatted a casual, nonchalant hand. "I'll come 'round after. The more the merrier, right?"

"That means you're bringing Terra then?" {Names'} eyebrows perked up in an obvious statement.

Aqua just smiled all haughty like with her head held high, as if that was a stupid question. "But of course."

"Vanitas hates guests."

"Well at least he's feeling something towards us."

{Name} shook her head, as if she expected it. Then a thought occured. "Is Zack tagging along?"

At the mention of his name, Aqua pulled a suspicious face. "No, why?"

"No reason, thought he might since he's been tagging along with you and Terra." {Name} simply pointed out, shrugging her shoulders before grabbing a carton of juice from the table and pouring it for herself.

Aqua watched on as her cousin drank from her glass. "Don't even think about it, {Name}. What would Vanitas say?"

{Name} paused from drinking from her glass, slowly lowering it down whilst pulling a confused look towards her cousin; swallowing down her juice. "What are you on about now?"

"Zack's too old for you, and if you were to be with him, I certainly doubt Vanitas will take it well." Aqua clarified, still in her obscured talking ways.

{Name} blinked, not in confusion. "...what?"

"I won't allow it." Aqua finalised with the cross of her arms.

Again, {Name} blinked, and again, not in confusion. "...what?!"

"It's as I said."

{Name} paused again, still giving her cousin a dirty look of disbelief. She blew out a sigh once she placed the pieces together, massaging her temple to do away the headache her cousin gave her. She was doing it again.

"Ok, let me just clear things with you Aqua before your brain turns into more of a mess Vanitas probably had something to do with a long time ago." {Name} said, recalling the past things she's heard and witnessed whenever she was around the two. "I, am not interested in Zack. And even if I were, you can't stop me regardless of age."

"{Name}, he's too old for youー"

{Name} flailed her arms to stop her cousin further. "Habudahーwait! I'm not finished." Before she continued further, she placed Meeko off her lap and on the table so he had a better reach of food. "Moving on to Vanitas, our relationship is not like that. There's no relationship involved! Me and him...him and I...it's just like everyone elses. With the exception of you and Terra, of course."

"Oh, come on, {Name}, your relationship is purely platonicー"

"ーcall it what you willー"

"ーactually, I don't even know what to call your relationship anymore, because despite it all, you and he have already been shipped."

"Shipped?"

"Yes, when you put two of your favourite characters, or in this case people, on a boat andー"

"I know what shipping is! But it's not like that, ok?"

The two realised how close they were to each other, they took the pause as a chance to sit back down; both exhaling an exasperated sigh. Aqua had her arms crossed whilst {Name} brushed a hand through her bed hair in hopes to fix it slightly. There was another pause, which {Name} took the chance to finish her juice. All that was heard was the crunching from Meeko as he chomped through a mouthful of cookies, the clanking of clean dishes being piled away, and the monotonous mutter coming from the TV.

"So? What is it like?" Aqua pried further. {Name} wanted so badly to throw a piece of toast at her face, but decided against it. If she did that, Aqua will only take it as a sign that she was right.

So instead, she continued to humour her cousin further. "It's like falling from an eight storey building and landing on a crate of marshmallows and then passing out when you realised how far that fall was only to be saved in the end."

"So like love."

{Name} literally smacked her forehead on the table. The pain was nothing compared to how unbearable her cousin was being right now. "No! We're just friends!"

"The many countless times I've heard Lea say that about his certain friend [2]."

Suddenly, her thread of patience snapped. {Name} stood up, the force of the chair going back made a skidding noise, which caught her aunt and uncle's attention. "You're impossible!" {Name} finalised, leaving the table with Meeko in her arms.

"And you're in denial." Aqua retorted over her shoulder. In return, she felt something soft hit her head. "Ow!" When she looked back and then to the ground she found it to be a Totoro slipper. Aqua grunted in disapproval.

"You reap what you sow." {Names'} uncle remarked, bored with the TV so he turned to reading the newspaper.

"She'll thank me one day." Aqua replied with a wave of her hand.

"I do wish you stopped pestering your cousin as if you were her mother, Aqua." {Names'} aunt continued further, wiping her hands on her apron as she took a seat beside her daughter. "You're too young to act too old."

"Well, you know what they say, like mother, like daughter."

"Yes, but unlike you, your mother knows when to keep out of people's business." Her uncle stated sternly. "I'll tell you this like I've told you a thousand times, one of these days, you will push someone too far they'll stop talking to you. Take Vanitas for example. I would not doubt the reason I haven't seen him in years is because you scared him off. And it's not like you haven't done the same thing to Terra, either."

"Terra likes me, flaws and all." Aqua snapped, feeling at a disadvantage.

"I bless the boys' patience." Aquas' mum mumbled to herself. It earned a deadly glare from her daughter.

"Our point is, Aqua dear, right now, {Name} needs someone to rely on who doesn't act like a second mother." Aqua's dad stated. "Leave that to her parents, or us. Otherwise, in a term, butt-out."

"I couldn't say it better myself." Everyone turned to find {Name}, freshened up and dressed, smiling cheerily as she runs towards her uncle and gave him an appreciating hug and kiss on the cheeks before doing the same to her aunt. "Well, I'm off. Bye〜!"

"And where are you off to?" Aqua asked.

{Name} scoffed with a roll of her eyes. "If you have to know, mum, I'm going over Vans' house. I do have a challenge to do. Don't bother coming over after work, otherwise I'll start hating guests. Ta-ta〜!"

And with that, off {Name} went with Meeko at her heel. Aqua turned to find looks on her parent's faces that read, "we told you so".

"Oh, shut up."

✨

{Name} was quite shocked when she found Vanitas opening the door before she had the chance to knock or storm through. What was really shocking was, other than being awake at such an early time, he was wearing clothes. It appears he was going out somewhere.

"Oh, {Name}. What's up?" His nonchalant greeting as if nothing tensed or weird had ever happened was, for some reason, causing {Name} to be slightly miffed.

Here he was acting like nothing bad in the world had ever happened, and yet {Name} was the total opposite; a complete mess. Not to mention not getting the sleep she needed due to the fact she felt guilty for something she didn't know what the problem was or how it was caused, and yet she racked through her brain again and again, trying to come up with an answer as to why her pale friend was...mad! Whilst she was suffering with lack of sleep, Vanitas looks as though he...ーwait, is that eyeliner?

{Name} realised she was staring at him when Vanitas pulled a face. She shook her head. "Going out?"

"Yeah." He monotonously replied. He blinked. "Did you need something?"

{Name} could not believe what she was witnessing right now. Vanitas was acting rather strangely, stranger than last night to be exact. It was as if he forgotー

"...Vanitas, are you feeling ok?" {Name} asked rather worriedly.

"Yeah, why?"

"...our challenge?"

He was about to repeat her words in question by the way his face had scrunched up until he realised what she meant. The poor boy gently smacked his forehead for having forgotten the challenge he had been participating in for the past week. "Shit, sorry." He apologised sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I, uh, must've forgotten after getting a call this morning."

"A call?"

"Yeah, I...ran into someone I knew a long time ago last night when we separated, but I was too busy looking for you..." He paused before making this sort of gesture as if swatting a fly. "Anyway, he called this morning and asked to catch up, but I was half-awake when he called and I, uh, accidentally said yes."

{Name} was lost in the information given but after Vanitas was done explaining, she shook her head and blinked before getting back to reality. "Oh! So, uh, this is...pretty important then?"

"Not really, I mean I can cancel it another timeー"

"ーno, don't!" She said, cutting him off midway. "I mean," she scratches an invisible itch she felt on her left arm, "you guys haven't seen each other in a long time, right? So one day off shouldn't hurt ーI mean, technically, today is a day off." By the confused look Vanitas was pulling, {Name} assumed that he didn't know what she meant by that. "Our challenge today is basically doing the things we didn't have time to do or we missed, so for us I thought we should go get some decorations for our tree and gift-wrap all our gifts."

Before Vanitas could punish himself further, {Name} quickly swatted the problems away. "But it's ok! I mean, I don't mind doing all that by myself. I mean ーpssh!ー it's just shopping, who wants to go shopping at this time, right?"

"I can't put that on you, {Name}..."

Although {Name} tried to send him a reassuring smile, it only came out strained, as though she was admitting defeat that she didn't want to do it alone. Well she didn't, but she also didn't want to make Vanitas feel any more guilty than he was now. Or does she? When you think about it, this would be a perfect opportunity to take advantage of a guilt-ridden demon! But {Name} wouldn't do such a thing. Playfully, maybe, but not literally.

Seeing the sad look on her face, Vanitas reached out and pressed a hand to her cheek, which totally caught her by surprise. It resulted in getting her attention, which was Vanitas' objective. "How about this? I'll make it up to you. Pizza tonight?"

Was Vanitas reading her mind? Or was {Name} speaking aloud about taking advantage of him? Because that was only a joke and now {Name} is frozen because she didn't know which of two reasons were worse?

"You buy the decorations and whatnot and we'll do the tree tonight with pizza and maybe a movie playing in the background. Together." He smirked but then went sheepish as he lightly scratched his cheek. "Just warning you, my gift wrapping skills aren't the greatest."

The sound of uncertainty brought her back to life. "Mr Perfect is unskilled in something? This I gotta see."

"Don't keep your hopes up, {Name}." Vanitas scoffed, flicking her on the nose. Only gently. "I bet I'd still beat your ass in terms of skills."

"Au contraire mon amié [3], I don't like to boast but when it comes to the artistic stuff, I am the master, if not goddess, at it!" {Name} huffed proudly with her chest up.

Vanitas stared before breaking into a mischievious smirk. "Cooking is an art."

{Name} glared. "I can cook!"

"Burning boiled water doesn't count as cooking."

"It does if I can cook you."

"...anyway, how 'bout it? You, me, tree, pizza? Eh?" He wiggled his brow like a caterpillar doing the worm dance.

Who could reject that offer? {Name} stifled a laugh as she sent him a reply. "Sounds good to me."

The corner of his lips curved into a light smile. "Ok then. I won't be out for long. I should be back for four."

"Perfect."

Vanitas then closed his door behind him before walking across his lawn with {Name} watching him from his porch. He looked over his shoulder to send her a smirk. "Don't miss me too much."

"Ha! I have better things to do then think about you."

"That almost hurt, {Name}!" He yelled, his back hand up as a wave of goodbye.

If only it did...she almost thought as she watched his back slowly getting smaller from where she stood. But to {Name}, it felt like the time in his steps went too fast.

✨

The first thing {Name} did when she went home, other than falling backwards on her bed like a fluffy cloud, was to text the only person who knew what she was going through. You know, just for a rant and to take a heavy load off her shoulders.

Today 9:30 AM

Your niece-in-law is
a pain in the ass..
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[email protected]
is typing:
。。。
What?
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。。。
Ohh! You mean Aqua!
Why? What did she do?
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{Name's email account}@eMog.ne.kh
is typing:
。。。
Trying to mother my life!!!
(ﾉಥДಥ)ﾉ︵┻━┻･/
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To be fair (no pun intended), she initially just wanted to say hi and see what he was up to. But instead of typing two simple letters, her fingers had a mind of its' own. At least it knew her troubles.

Zack:
Should you be surprised...?
Haha
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{Name}:
No...but still!!!
Sometimes I think she
enjoys the power
(o_o)
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Zack:
So what happened?
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{Name} paused in thought as she contemplated in telling Zack himself what Aqua had thought, which was assuming {Name} liking Zack in a particular way. Which she didn't. Well, if she didn't, then it wouldn't be weird to tell him right? Still she paused her thumb before continuing to type.

{Name}:
You won't laugh?
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Zack:
Is it that bad?
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{Name}:
Not really.
Well maybe...
I don't know?
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Zack:
If it bothers you I won't laugh
Besides, you can't tell if I do or not
^ - ^
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{Name}:
Well ok but this is
gonna take awhile...
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Zack:
Wait!
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Zack:
Ok. Proceed!
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{Name}:
???
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Zack:
Went for popcorn
'cos you said it was gonna take awhile
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[email protected]
is typing:
。。。
And from that last rant you had
when we just met
I thought it was a good idea?
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{Name} bursted out laughing at his adorable side. She shook her head as she continued to type.

{Name}:
You dork!
（≧∇≦）
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Zack:
So?
What's up?
^ - ^
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Well...I might as well tell him.

It was already too late by that point as she had caught his full and undivided attention.

{Name}:
Well...where do I start?
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Zack:
Aqua bothered you because...?
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{Name}:
Oh! Right!
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{Name}@eMog.ne.kh is typing:
。。。
Yeah so I stayed over
Aqua's last night. Came down
and had breakfast and she
just asked what my plans
were for the day and I asked
what the challenge was for
today? (Cos, you know, our
xmas challenge thing right?)

Anyway, she said today
was a free day to do
whatever (like decorations
and whatnot) and she
asked if I needed any
help. And I was joking
around when I told her
Vanitas hated guests
(well, he does but that's
not the point) but anyway!
She's stubborn, it was
obvious she was gonna
come down whether
Vanitas liked it or not. Like,
come on bruh! She's ma
cousin! And she might as well
be your niece-in-law!

So I asked, obviously knowing
the answer, if Terra was
tagging along. And since we
were on the topic, I asked if
you were coming by too? And
she looks at me funny, like I
had a huge zit or something?
And she says, "Don't even
think about it"

...WHAT'STOTHINKABOUT?!??
Like, seriously bro, what even?
I was only asking if you were
going to come with since you
have been around Terra these
past few days!! And she goes
and assumes...THAT! Like, what
ever happened to a simple
yes or no???
‎щ(ಠ益ಠщ)
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And that was that. {Name} let out a huge breath as she lay her head back onto her pillow and dropped her phone beside her as if the anchor that was weighing her down had finally come off. It felt good to finally blow off some steam, even though she wasn't quite blowing any steam, but it was good to talk to someone decent who can listen to her and not nag about something completely off! If Vanitas wasn't busy, he'd probably be the first she would go to. {Name} was fortunate to have met Zack. She could talk to Terra but that wouldn't be fair on him. Aqua would probably be stubborn and take it out on him, accusing him for being on the wrong side.

She's probably ranting at him now, no doubt.

She felt vibration on her bed and instantly reached out for her phone.

yes or no???
‎щ(ಠ益ಠщ)
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[email protected]
is typing:
。。。
Ohh so it's my turn now?
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{Name} pulled a face of confusion, letting out a confused noise through her nose.

{Name}:
Huh?
( •᷄ὤ•᷅)？
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Zack:
Last time she was on about
how you like Vanitas right?
So it's my turn then?
（。≖ิ‿≖ิ）
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{Name}:
That is the most seediest face
I've ever seen XD
Dem eyebrows tho
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Zack:
Oh really?
Then how about this:
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
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{Name}:
Nah bro, the first one got
me good XD

SERIOUSLY THO! Can we
be real for a second?

I know she means well but
sometimes I don't think she
realises what she's doing...
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Zack:
Sorry, thought I should cheer
ya up a little.

Look, don't worry about it,
{Name}. Your cousin's just
like that. Don't know HOW
she came to be like that, but
I know she wasn't the way
she is back when I was in
high school.

I only came to know her when
baby Terra was only in junior
high [4] and I'll let you know now,
this overprotectiveness never came
to be until I returned for Christmas
the year after I graduated, which was
five years ago.
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{Names'} eyes grew wide as her eyebrows furrowed after reading the text Zack had just sent. Aqua wasn't as overprotective as she is now? Or it never came to be?

Five years ago...

She was only thirteen then, and was still living her last years in Twilight Town. So what happen those years before she moved must have a huge impact on Aqua to cause her protective side. But then it begs the question, what happened five years ago?

Just as she thought it, {Name} quickly typed it.

{Name}@eMog.ne.kh
is typing:
。。。
So...what happened
five years ago?
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[email protected]
is typing:
。。。
Can't say. When I
returned from Olympus,
things were just...weird?

Something was obviously
up but even to this day I
never really asked 'cos
I didn't stay long. I only
took a few days leave to
celebrate Xmas with the fam
but since then I've just been
hella busy with training.

I only came back 'cos I
had an accident in one
of our procedures and was
granted discharge. Was
really surprised how every
thing is back to normal. Altho,
I DO still feel like something's
up. If there's anything I have
to thank from my captain, it's
the analytical work. As sucky
theory work is, I've been
able to analyze everyone's
gestures and such.
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{Name} blew out a sigh of slight frustration and disbelief. So even Zack didn't know, but then it got her recalling a few things of the past. When she thought about it, Aqua was never this bad when they were children. The two were like sisters, as thick as thieves and as close to the hip like two peas in a pod. Although {Name} was more reckless out of the two, the epitome of a child, Aqua was just as fun. She was loving and kind, not to say she isn't now, but her loving and kindness seemed more stern than gentle. Even when she first moved to Radiant Garden, Aqua would be fussing about where things are and, to make sure {Name} was never lost, she would walk her to places until {Name} was used to her surroundings; which wasn't bad for a few days, but this lasted for a month or two. {Name} just thought Aqua was just fussy, a habit she probably picked up growing up, but as days go by, the bond between the two started to strain from being sisters to no more than an estranged mother and child. A thought occurred to her, along with some questions.

{Name}@eMog.ne.kh
is typing:
。。。
What was Terra like
back in junior high?

Also, what is it you do
at uni? I get the feeling
you're some kind of
soldier?
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[email protected]
is typing:
。。。
Hmmm...the same, I
suppose? Altho I know
he's been tamed.

Terra used to be quite
upbeat and wild but
would always be a mess
when Aqua was involved. This
was waaaaaay before they got
together. Now he's just all
father-like, which scares me
at times because it has me
questioning my existance as
an elder hahaha

Tho he does have his moments
as my baby Terra that he is.
Being clumsy and all haha

Oh! I go to MOU (Mount Olympus
University) and I'm currently studying
criminology and justice. That's only
on the sidelines tho. I'm on an
athletic scholarship. I actually want
to join the police force and the best
place to get a degree is at Olympus.
I love being athletic and training,
and I enjoy saving people so you
know, a great honour to be accepted.
I've just finished my last year.
We'll see where it goes, ya know?
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{Name} chuckled at his last statement. She wanted so badly to write, "I got it Rai" but he wouldn't know who she was referring to. Rai, or Raijin, was a boy she lived next door to when she lived in Twilight Town, and he wasn't really one for words, just like his best friend Fuujin. But when he does talk, he would have a tendency to say, "ya know?" at the end of it; like a signature move or something. Thinking about it, she couldn't recall the last time she spoke to him.

{Name}:
He sounds kinda like you
haha

Guess it's like uncle like nephew?
In your case anyway haha

Sounds awesome Zack!
All the best of luck, you know?
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Zack:
Well you know, I gotta
set a good example to
the young ones (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧

Altho if my nephew turned
out like me, I know that my
sister will kill me so try not
to mention it hahah

Yeah! Thanks smalls.
All the best to you too!
Heard you wanna be a
doctor! That's gonna be
hard af [5].

Where you applying?
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{Name}:
Smalls?!? Really bro??
I DARE you to say that to
ma face! I'll show you who's
small!!

Also, thanks! Did Aqua tell
you?

I know the best place
in a duck degree is here
but I thought of going back
home down at Twilight Town.
I don't really mind where but
we'll see how it goes.
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Zack:
Name a place and time,
I'll be there!

No problems, and no.
Your uncle was the one
who brought it up.

Duck degree?
Good luck all the same! XD
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{Name's} eyes suddenly widened at her mistake before laughing it off.

{Name}:
Come at me bruh!

Well isn't this a surprise.
Getting cosy with my
family are we?

Sorry, I meant duck degree.
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{Name} grunted at her mistake again before fixing it.

{Name}:
*duck degree
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**duck
。。。
***duck
。。。
DUCK!!!!
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Zack:
GOOSE!
Sorry, just had to XD
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{Name}:
DAMNAUTOCORRECT!!!
I meant doc-tor-ate degree
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Zack:
I know what you meant
Still funny XD

So any plans today?
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{Name}:
Humph

Yeah, was gonna go
down to the mall to get
the decorations for stuff
Why? What's up?
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Zack:
You know you love me
If not me, you gotta love
this face
（。≖ิ‿≖ิ）

Thought you wanted some
help before we have our brawl
Ey, smalls? >:)
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{Name} smiled in delight and couldn't help but release the chuckles that were bubbling inside her. With one last text, she got up and got ready to head out.

{Name}:
You're right
I DO love that face

Show it to me more
down at the mall.
I'll be waiting, old man
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✨

The first thing {Name} did upon seeing Zack park up his bike is run over to punch his arm. The punch seriously took him by surprise as he was expecting a hug from her actions. The smile on her face was quite deceiving.

"Ow! That really hurt smalls..." Zack winced, rubbing his now sore arm.

"Good. That was my intention all along." {Name} haughtily laughed with her arms on her hips, chest puffed out in triumph. She then raised her knuckles once more when he mentioned that nickname. "Do you want another one?"

Zack pulls this whimpering puppy look as he slowly rubbed his arm for dramatic effect. "You wouldn't hurt a li'l ol' pup like me, right?"

{Name's} eyes widened in shock at Zack's actions. His big baby blue eyes sure did the trick for {Name}. She could not believe how adorable he looked right now.

"What is that?" She asked, eyes still as big as dish plates. "What are you doing?"

"What?" Zack asked, all too innocently; slowly blinking once at the end.

"That!" {Name} asserted trying to stay focus. "What is that you are doing?"

"I'm not doing anything." Zack denies with a little pout and a twinkle in those puppy eyes he was making.

She begins to wonder whether Terra can pull off this look, and whether Aqua has seen it. If she has, {Name} wonders how her cousin deals with it. The puppy-dog look Zack was pulling was really taking an affect on her. {Name} groans in defeat, and with that, drew back her fist.

"Alright you winー" Zack snaps out of his litlle puppy trance and was about to cheer if {Name} hadn't thrusted a finger towards his face. "ーbut know this, you won't get me again!"

Zack grins in triumph. He then ruffles {Name's} hair childishly. "We'll see, shortcake."

Due to the rough ruffling, it gave Zack a headstart to run into the mall before {Name} could run after him and successfully drop-kick him.

✨

The whole day was spent on buying decorations and wrapping paper. Of course during the time going around to pick the decorations, Zack would often goof around. At one stage he would try to distract {Name} by putting two of the ornaments on his chest as fake breasts. {Name} would tell him off, of course with a few giggles escaping past her lips. He would then would find a reindeer's headband and hold a red ornament by his nose and ask {Name} to guess who he was. At one stage they played hide and go seek the elf (a game Zack made up once he found elf ears) and made it pretty clear that {Name} was to be the seeker. She found him in the wrapping paper section except he wasn't quite how she saw him last. Apparently he was hiding in the toy section and an employee with a lack of sleep mistook him for a toy and quickly (and expertly) wrapped him up. All she heard were muffles when she found him. She couldn't help but laugh, she had to take a video for memories ーmaybe even for blackmail material?

At the end of the day, once all the fooling around ended, the two eventually bought the decorations and wrapping paper needed. They had lunch afterwards, talked about a few recollections of their past during high school. {Name} only recently graduated, so {Name} still had a better memory than Zack did, but even his stories were just as funny and precious to hear. Especially the one where at the start of his senior year, as all the new first years entered the hallway of the school, the seniors would run out in spartan clothes and chase the first years out and around the schoolyard once Zack gave the signal, which was just his "this is sparta" exclamation. The mission was to lasso as many first years they could and the one with the most numbers wins the title of Class President. Apparently it had all the senior boys miss detention that day, since there was just too many of them. It left quite an impression on the new first years. Although Zack didn't win the title, he was pretty proud of coming up with such an idea and to enjoy an event with his good friends. Unfortunately for Zack, Terra wasn't a first year during Zack's last year of his golden years. Of course, Terra thought otherwise. They talked about their friends, how they met and Zack would talk about his adventures during university.

Once they were done with lunch, Zack took {Name} home ーwell, actually, he took her to Vanitas' place. Of course he helped her with her bags, even though {Name} kindly rejected his help. But {Name} was reminded that,

"[...] wherever there's a damsel in distress, I'll be there."

She wasn't going to win with words, especially with those puppy eyes; but she was grateful. She gently smiled at the thought of how much fun she was having with Zack. After the weird, unexplainable things she was going through. She was glad the person who was there to cheer her up was Zack. If there was one thing she was grateful to Aqua, it would be having met Zack.

"Well, everything's settled." Zack said once he placed the stuff on the coffee table of the lounge room. He then walked towards the front entrance where {Name} stood patiently with the doors opened.

"Would you like something to drink? Maybe hot cocoa?" {Name} offered, not wanting her fun time with Zack to end.

As if reading her mind, Zack chuckles; lightly ruffling {Names'} hair this time. "I would love to stay and chat some more, {Name}, but I promised to help the witch I call my sister with her Christmas shopping." He let out a disgruntled sigh. "Leaving it this late is so typical of her. Mum has warned her about this, but noooooo. Said she had enough time to do it. With Christmas only two days away, I'd like to see how she'll pull off a Christmas miracle."

{Name} giggles at this. "I understand Zack. It's all good." She lightly patted his shoulders. She had to stand on her tippy-toes to reach it. "Best of luck to thee〜!"

Zack rolled his eyes before sending her a strained appreciative smile. But then he grinned happily as he bowed on one knee, making a wave gesture with his hand as he knelt down. "Why, thank you, my lady." He said in his plummy-posh voice. He then reached out for {Name's} hand. "I'll promise to send my darling letters from the purest of white doves."

{Name} rolled her eyes with a laugh. "The purest of white doves?"

"The purest!"

"Then I look forward to these letters from the purest of white doves you speak so beautifully of."

Zack then kissed the back of {Names'} hand. "Until then my darling, I shall depart."

As if he had an invisible cape on, Zack dramatically pulled the ends over his opposite shoulder before running to his "steed" and riding off on home. She waved goodbye before starting on wrapping the gifts she bought and the ones she helped Vanitas buy.

✨

She opened the door with glee once she heard the knocking. At first she thought it was weird for Vanitas to do that in his own home, but then thought that maybe he was just checking to see if she was there. Getting up and opening the door, ready to give him a welcome hug, she stopped herself when she saw shades of blue and not black. Her smile instantly faltered upon seeing her cousin by the door.

"..."

"..."

"...what are you doing here?" {Name} said, breaking the silence between the two. She leant on the side of the door with folded arms, the opposite of glee was what she had felt.

"Thought you needed some help." Aqua responded casually.

"No, I'm fine, thanks." {Name} rejected nonchalantly. "Is that all?"

Aqua eyed her cousin with obvious anger on her face, but she let it out with a blow through her lips.

"{Name}, I, just wanted to apologise for..." Aqua started to shift her eyes away, an act of embarrassment. "...well, for being me. I didn't mean to assume the worst so quickly."

"You make liking Zack sound so bad, I have to wonder what your issues are with him as a person?" {Name} stated, quirking her brow in suspicion yet still maintaining her irritation with her cousin from this morning.

"Nothing! He's not a bad guy, really." Aqua interjected. "Look, my point is not about whether you like him or not, I just didn't mean to assume that. I was just worried about you, I don't want you to get hurt."

"Hurt? From what?" Now {Name} was confused.

"I'm not saying if you like anyone, but when you do...it's not an easy road." Aqua flustered, blushing as if she were talking about an innappropriate topic (like sex or something).

"...are we on the same page here?" {Name} asked, causing Aqua to giggle a bit. "Look, Aqua, I'm not mad at you for assuming if I like whoever." {Name} paused. "Well, I kinda am, but my major point is I really dislike it when you act all martyr-like and preach what is right in the worst of times." {Name} said. "Like a few days ago, exclaiming I love Vanitas when I just needed advice on how to handle a tough situation isn't the right way to go. We're cousins, we used to be as close like sisters. I don't need another parent, Aqua, I just need someone to be there when I'm down and don't know what to do."

Aqua stared at her cousin with a pained expression. It was obvious she was having negative thoughts about herself.

"You know, I'm glad I had Zack around to talk to because if I didn't, I would have just slammed the door to your face and maybe ignore you for the rest of my life." {Name} said. "But I didn't because apparently, you weren't always like this."

Aqua's eyes widened in shock, her heart was beating so audibly, {Name} couldn't push what she wanted to say.

"I won't ask you what happened five years ago, but I want you to know that you can stop beating yourself up for whatever it is." {Name} said, which had Aqua react in surprise. "You don't have to stop being motherly if you enjoy it so much, but you can stop trying to control people and pushing them to what you think is the right direction." {Name} smiled gently as she leant forward to wipe a tear from under Aqua's cheeks. "As humans, it's natural to make mistakes. Good or bad, those mistakes become our experience and it makes us who we are. You can advise what is right, but you can't push someone to do it. You gotta let them figure it out."

Aqua, still brimming with tears, nodded slowly to her cousins' words. {Name} feeling slightly guilty, pulled her cousin in for a hug. It was kind of awkward as {Name} was shorter than Aqua; her full height reached her cousins' chest. But it was nice and full of renewed bonds. Once the two got out of the embrace, they started to giggle like schoolgirls would after hearing a funny rumour girls would gossip about.

"Do you want to build a snowman?" {Name} wiggled her brows playfully. Aqua just rolled her eyes.

"You heard, didn't you?" Aqua stated, referring to the time she was upset she dragged Vanitas to watch that movie with her to cheer her up. She went again for the sing along.

"It's not what I heard, it's what I had to go through." {Name} said, recalling the events of the movie night she had with him. Dramatic as it was, it was funny. Though she sulked at one stage when she found out Vanitas saw the movie without her, all was forgiven when he sang to her. Aqua might've been the one to watch it first with him, but she didn't get the chance to see what {Name} did.

Aqua furrowed a suspicious brow. "What did you have to go through?"

{Name} chuckled to herself. "Don't worry your pretty head about it〜! Now let's go and wrap pressies!" She exclaimed, gripping her cousins' wrist before dragging her in.

✨

His right eye twitched in annoyance upon entrance to his kingdom. From the doors that lead to his house, he could see a blue-haired figure helping {Name} decorating the tree, whilst a certain brunette was comfortable on his throne, drinking his beer. He was saving that beer for tonight. He won't be getting that beer tonight. The door slams shut, causing heads to turn from the sound. The first to smile was none other than his partner.

"Vanitas! Okaeri!" She chirped happily, her eyes smiling in sync with her smile.

Vanitas blew out a defeated sigh before nodding his head in acknowledgement and taking off his boots. Forcefully dragging himself into his lounge room, he made way towards his couch but before he sat down, he glared at the one thing in his way. Terra looked up when he felt that Vanitas wasn't going to sit down.

"Move." There was no room for discussion in his tone, and Terra didn't hesitate to do so.

Quickly, he went for one of the single recliners as Vanitas plopped his bum on his sofa, not before plopping the pizza box on the coffee table. He let out a tired, satisfied and relieved groan once the comfort kicked in.

"Long day?" Terra asked.

"Don't try to waste your breath, Okiayu." Vanitas said, his head lay back on the headrest in bliss. "Just 'cos you know people I know, doesn't necessarily mean I want to know you."

Terra's glare didn't last long as he continued drinking Vanitas' last beer, looking anywhere else to occupy his mind. He then leant over for the TV remote and switched it on; it was mainly for sound. After five minutes of decorating the tree with the ornaments bought that day and listening to game show hosts joking around, Aqua finally let out a sound of relief.

"And we're done!" She exclaimed proudly, wiping her forehead with her backhand. "Now all that's left is wrapping the gifts..."

"I think Vanitas and I can take it from here, Aqua." {Name} said, hinting to Vanitas their promise.

"Well, alright then." Aqua said, getting up and dusting off any excess firs. "Come on, Terra, we should be heading back for dinner."

Aqua was about to put the star on the tree, but Vanitas reacted quickly; jumping over the couch swiftly and grabbing the last ornament before Aqua could get on her tiptoes for the finishing touches. Everyone was bewildered after what just happened and tried to make sense of it.

Vanitas only realised what he had done after a long pause. He then cleared his throat. "I believe it is up to the owners of the tree to add in the last ornament, wouldn't you agree?"

Everyone blinked once. "Ah, yes, I suppose..." Aqua said, still looking at Vanitas as if he grew another head. "Come along, Terra. We have an early start tomorrow."

Terra didn't hesitate to get up and leave with his girlfriend. Before the two actually left, Aqua back-tracked to remind the two of the occasion tomorrow. "Ah! Before I forget, Lerane and Ryan [6] are throwing their annual Yuletide Ball tomorrow. The theme is the colours of Christmas."

"Is that part of the challenge?" {Name} asked.

"Yes." Vanitas' groan was heard in the background. Aqua then turned her attention towards him. "And please do me a favour Vanitas, don't smoke near the flammable tree."

"I wasn't the one who lit the place on fire!" Vanitas snapped behind the blunette as she left with Terra. "Someone else did, I just happen to be there at the wrong time!"

{Name} giggled to herself before bringing her partner back inside to start on the gift wrapping. "Didn't you say you had some skills to prove?" {Name} said challengingly. This certainly got his attention.

"Prove?! I have nothing to prove!" Vanitas smirked. "Look at me, I'm perfect."

"Big words for a big boy." {Name} taunted.

"Oh that's it, {Surname}. Prepare to eat your words!"

✨

"You know, this is considered cheating!" {Name} exclaimed in the corner of the room.

During their wrapping challenge, {Name} was two gifts ahead. She was fast and she moved her hands like an expert, managing to make it look like one of those fake gifts you see under the trees in the mall. Whereas Vanitas was getting frustrated with the ribbons and mostly the sticky-tape. {Name} was taunting him and teasing him to the point where Vanitas tied her up when her guard was down, and wrapped her like a Christmas gift in gold paper that was decorated with white snowflakes. Now she was in the corner watching him wrap. She couldn't tell which was more sufferable, watching him wrap or being wrapped.

"There are no rules in gift wrapping." Vanitas calmly said.

"I'm sure this is against human rights."

"You mean elf rights, right?"

{Name} pulled a confused face before realising what he meant. "When I get my hands on you Van, you will surely regret it!"

"Keep trying {Name}, but I'll be done by the time you get out." Vanitas taunted.

{Name} growled, struggling to get her hands free from the ribbons Vanitas used, but all that struggling caused her to face-plant the floor. Vanitas, watching the whole thing, quickly took out his camera to tape the whole scene. {Name} noticed this as she turned her head.

"What are you doing?" She snapped.

"Filming you for memories, I'm not missing this golden chance." Vanitas replied casually.

"Right. That's it!"

{Name} started to toss and turn like a turtle before rolling towards Vanitas. Witnessing what he just saw caused the boy to laugh like an idiot, he didn't care if she reached him. He was glad to have his phone at the ready. By the time {Name} had rolled close to him, she quickly jumped in the weirdest way and landed on top of a laughing donkey.

"Vanitas! You get me out of this!" {Name} growled, trying to crush him with her weight. But to no avail, the boy continued laughing. "VANITAS!!!"

"Ok! Ok!" He panted, coughing a bit as she had jumped on his stomach at one stage. Recovering from the fits of laughter, he then took out a pair of scissors and started cutting. "There, you're free to go little ーoof!" Before he began to finish his sentence, {Name} had pummelled his gut before wincing in pain herself. She striked where his piercing was.

The two were on the ground holding their own pain in hand. Vanitas was the first to laugh. "Nice shot."

"We wouldn't have to be in pain if you hadn't called me a little elf." {Name} winced, getting up to shake it off.

"I didn't even get to finish my sentence."

"Well obviously I wasn't going to let you, you cheater!"

"Whaat? When did I ever?"

"Just then!"

Vanitas shook his head, before getting up himself. As he had done so, the tune [7] coming from the TV suddenly got his attention. The singer then spoke the next few lines instead of singing it.

You know, Christmas comes but once a year for every girl and boy,
The laughter and the joy they find in each brand new toy.
I'll tell you of a little boy that lives across the way.
This little fella's Christmas is just another day.
He's the little boy that Santa Claus forgot,
And goodness knows, he didn't want a lot.

It was already coming to an end, but the face Vanitas had on was rather peculiar. {Name} couldn't help but watch his unknown expression. It was blank but there was fury in his eyes; along with pain.

"In the street he envies all those lucky boys,
Then wanders home to last year's broken toys〜♪"

"...turn it off, {Name}." His inaudible mumble caught her off-guard.

"I'm so sorry for that laddie〜♪"

"Whaー?"

"He hasn't got a daddy〜♪"

"I said turn it off!" He barked. {Name} jolted in shock before running for the remote and switching it off.

"The little boy that Santa Claus forgoー"

For some reason, she was panting; her grip on the remote made her knuckles turn white. She glances at her pale friend, who seemed paler than usual, and noticed the relief on the creases of his forehead go. He scratches the back of his head.

"Sorry, I just..." He pauses as he glances at {Name's} shocked and bewildered expressions. He then cleared his throat. "I'm not in the mood for Christmas songs."

{Name} nodded her trembling head in understanding. Vanitas clicked his teeth, blaming himself for raising his voice at {Name} when he could have handled it calmly. He turned towards the entrance of his house.

"...I'm gonna go get more beer." Vanitas muttered, turning his back on {Name} before leaving the house.

{Name} just watched on. Once Vanitas left the premises, her legs started to buckle and she fell on her knees where she stood.

What was that just now?

Did something happen today?

Was it the song?

How much of an impact did that song had on him?

These questions ran freely through her mind, causing a headache to form and for {Name} to miss an opportunity she should have taken.

Which was to run for him.

✨

[1] Totoro is a creature from Studio Ghibli's My Neighbour Totoro/Tonari no Totoro. I can't exactly describe what he is but apparently a spirit that protects the forest (I think?).

[2] friend - I'm not gonna define it, I am making a side-story. Check out for more information on my Book of Randomness. There are upcoming stories I'd like to share.

[3] Au contraire mon amié translation from French to English means "on the contrary my friend".

[4] Junior High - I am using the Japanese school system. So from Grade 1-6 in Elementary School is ages 6-12. In Junior High from Grade 1-3 is ages 12-15. In High School from Grades 1-3 is ages 15-18.
Fact #1: The first two are compulsory, high school isn't (in Japan).
Fact #2: I just call the students who start high school as sophomores instead of freshman 'cos they only have 3 years of high school. You can stick with freshman but, I dunno? Maybe I'll just say first years instead of applying it to the American system?

[5] af is "as fuck" in texting abbreviations

[6] Ryan is Demyx' first name: Ryan Dempsey. It's actually his English voice actor's name and since we don't know Demyx's real name and I already use the Demy bit as his surname, I'm using his voice actor's first name as his name. So he is Ryan Dempsey whereas his sister is Lerane Dempsey.

[7] The song is "The Little Boy Santa Claus Forgot" and it's sung by Nat King Cole.

Planned: 12.12.14; 20:30 PM
Edit #1: 02.12.15; 10:29 AM
Edit #2: 05.12.15; 01:22 AM
Edit #3: 05.12.15; 13:12 PM
Edit #4: 05.12.15; 20:34 PM
Edit #5: 09.12.15; 01:28 AM
Edit #6: 10.12.15; 12:28 PM
Edit #7: 11.12.15; 24:28 AM
Edit #8: 12.12.15; 19:35 PM
Edit #9: 13.12.15; 20:57 PM
Edit #10: 16.12.15; 19:30 PM
Edit #11: 17.12.15; 10:50 AM
Edit #12: 21.12.15; 10:06 AM
Edit #13: 22.12.15; 13:14 PM
Finished: 23.12.15; 11:15 AM