Thę Škęłętøñ Kēÿ Prøłøúgė The Jinx Key glowed in the soft moonlight, the silver bear head on the top glittering. Aerith rolled it over in her palm, her green eyes full of grief. This key had destroyed her life. Because of it, her best friend, Kairi, had died. She promised to avenge her death, and find the door that the key would open. Is there even a door out there that this key can unlock? And where does the wicked curse come from that possesses it? Çhåptęr Øñė "Aerith! Are you okay?!" Kairi dashed over to Aerith, Yuffie standing protectively in front of them, her Ninja Stars at ready. Aerith forced open her eyes. The scene was unreal. Kairi was leaning over her, her pale ginger hair brushing past her nose. Her Obsidian Katana lay beside, it's blade bent out of shape. Yuffie was throwing Ninja Stars at an unseen enemy, and Kagami had a boy in a dark cloak pinned, her small bloody dagger pressed against his neck threateningly. I coughed, and felt something on my lip. Blood. "Aerith, I gotta get you outta here! Kagami, Yuffie! I'm taking her home!" Kairi shouted back to them, then turned back to me. "Aerith.. C'mon stand up.." She helped me stand up, then draped my arm over her shoulder. She quickly got me away from the battle field, down a dark alley. I slumped down against the brick wall, starting to feel my wounds for the first time. "Kairi.. What's going on..?" I sputtered, my side stinging. "Some guy came and grabbed your arm, he was trying to give you something, but Yuffie thought he was hurting you.." She trailed off, gazing back at where we came from. "Go...on, please." "Sh-she started throwing Ninja Stars at him, but he disappeared into thin air! Then.. Then h-he appeared again and pushed Yuffie down, then Kagami rushed in and attacked him, but some other guy appeared and attacked her! I ran in and helped get Kagami and the other guy off, but the first man was no where to be seen because he disappeared again! Next thing I know, your being held up in the air.. Like some doll! Yuffie came in with her NS and started firing at the man, he dropped you, and Yuffie was still firing NS at him, Kagami was wrestling the other guy, and I helped you." She finished, a single tear rolling down her cheek. I felt sick. My head was hurting, and my whole body ached. I noticed Kairi was unharmed. She must have healed herself. "Kairi.. Heal me.. Please.." She nodded and places her hands gently on my palms. The soft pink highlights in her hair flowed down her arm, onto mine, then separated and went in different directions. Instantly, I felt better. Stronger, healthier, and mentally ready to take down the unseen enemy. Kairi lifted her hands slightly, the pink streaking her hair again. "Better?" She asked. I nodded, then stood up. I outstretched my arm, my Keyblade instantly appearing in my hand in a flash of light. Kairi gazed at me sadly. "Aerith..." She warned. I shook my head and dashed away, jumping into the air, only to land on four paws instead of two feet. Lioness paws. I slid to a stop beside a defeated Yuffie. I pawed her arm, keeping my claws sheathed. "Yuffie! Get up!" I glanced around and saw Kagami still had the boy pinned. Yuffie opened her eyes to slits. "He... He.." Her eyes closed again. "Yuffie!" I wailed. I closed my eyes, ready to admit death, when I heard her heartbeat. It was slow, and uneven. "Kairi!" I yowled out, my tail lashing. I sat down beside her, my ears alert for any danger. Kairi came bounding up to us, pink snakes flowing around her hands. She came ready. She pressed her hands to Yuffie's palms and waited as the pink snakes flowed off onto Yuffie. I stood up, brushing past Kairi lightly, and bounded over to Kagami, a growl rumbling in my throat so the boy would know I wasn't nice. Kagami glanced up at me, her pale pink eyes fierce. "Take over, I needa rest." She huffed. I nodded and placed my large front paws on the boy's shoulders, then my hind paws on his stomach once Kagami got up. "What's your name?" I demanded. "Sagittarius." His voice was deep, but mysterious. It sounded like he wanted to say more. "Age?" I pressed. "Eternal." I tilted my head. "Eternal?" Kagami snatched the hood off of his head, revealing long, spikey black hair that hung in his face. He was gorgeous. He smiled, revealing small vamipiric fangs. "Suprised by my looks?" While I was dazzled by his hotness, he quickly escaped from my grasp, and stood before me, brushing dirt and grit from his cloak. He pulled his hood back on, and ran off before we could even take a breath. Ćhäptęr Twø He was chasing me. Always a step behind me. I tried morphing into a cheetah, but even that wasn't fast enough. Why was he after me? He was shouting to me, calling out, trying to tell me something. I awoke just before he could catch me. I was sweating heavily, my long bangs matted to my face. I sat up in my bed and looked around. Yuffie and Kairi were huddled together on the spare bed, but Kagami was nowhere to be seen. I knew she should be here though. "Kagami..?" I hissed into the silent air. No response. "Kagami!" I called louder. A shuffling noise, then came Kagami's voice. "Yeah?" I got out of my bed and walked towards her voice. She was standing in the hallway, a candle giving it a calm, eerie glow. "Kagami, what are you doing out here? Why aren't you inside?" "I needed some thinking space." She answered simply, before sitting back down in the hallway. "To think about what? What happened today?" She looked up at me. "Yeah, actually. That boy, Sagittarius, he.." I turned to face her. "Yeah..?" "Well, he said that our destinies were tied. That we would meet again someday, but we might not recognize each other." "Sagittarius said that to YOU? He's saying you and him.. Your destinies are.. tied?" She nodded, her eyes worried. "I can't help but worry about what exactly that means." I squeezed her shoulder, then stood up. "Coffee?" She gazed up at me, then smiled. "Yeah, thanks Aerith." She stood up and followed me into the kitchen. She sat down at the table. "Could I just have hot chocolate?" I wrinkled my nose. "Hot chocolate? I don't have any, sorry. I have sodas though." She shook her head. "I'll take coffee." I nodded and brewed us both a cup, then sat down across from her. "What does your mother think of you always with us?" I asked quietly. She shuffled her hands back and forth. "She.. She doesn't like it." "Why not?! I'm responsible and so is Yuffie and Kairi!" I retorted. "Well, I'm only 14, and you guys are much older..." I slumped back in my chair. "So she's not gonna let you hang out with us anymore, huh?" She looked up at me, her eyes blazing. "She will NOT stop me from hanging out with my friends! Those kids at school hate me.. They laugh at me, and pick on me." I gently laid my hand on her shoulder. "I'm always here Kagami." With that, I stood up and left out of the kitchen, forgetting all about the coffee. Standing on the shore, gazing out at the deserted island brought back painful memories. I remembered playing there with Yuffie and Kairi as children, when things weren't so complicated, and Roxas was still alive. Sora, Roxas's brother, didn't know how it happened, but he was there on the scene when he died. She didn't trust him, no matter how handsome he was, and how sweet he was towards her. A sudden hand in her shoulder revealed Yuffie's presence. "You okay, Aerith?" "Yeah... Just thinkin' about Roxas." Yuffie looked down at her feet. "He was a good friend. I miss him so much..!" Aerith turned to face Yuffie, her pale green eyes confused. "Why do you hate Sora so much?" "I don't trust him." "Why? He's sweet..." Yuffie grew furious. "He's a killer, Aerith! Don't you find it strange that HE was there when Roxas died?! Oh, but he claims to know nothing of Roxas' death!" Aerith only stood there, taking every word in. She believed Sora was innocent, and wasn't going to admit he might have killed his own brother. Yuffie shook her head, then walked away, tears streaking her face. "Don't trust Sora, Aerith. I don't want to find you dead somewhere." Aerith sighed, and walked away from the shore, onward towards Sora's house. He might be able to help her. She stopped a block away from his house, seeing his Gummi Ship parked in the driveway. Where was Sora going? Aerith walked closer, eyeing the Gummi Ship warily. "Sora?" She called slowly. He poked out his head from inside the Ship. "Aerith? Whadda ya doin' here?" "I just wanted to ask you a few questions, if you have time." She motioned towards his Gummi Ship. He smiled and jumped out. He was taller than he was the last time Aerith saw him. "What questions you got for me?" He looked slightly.. Hopeful? "Well, I was at the beach today.. Y'know since I live near it and all..." She stuttered. "And Yuffie was with me.." All the happiness disappeared from his eyes. "Your asking about Roxas." "Y-yeah." I bit my lower lip, looking down at my feet. "Sorry." He shook his head. "This is why I'm leaving! Everyday, someone asks me about his death! Nobody cares about me!" He yelled. "It's unfair!" I flinched at his anger. "Where will you go, Sora?" "I'll go live back in Twilight Town, or in Hollow Bastion." I shook my head. "Come live with me. You don't have to go." He rolled his eyes. "Yeah right! Yuffie lives with you, and me and her REALLY don't get along." "No she doesn't. She lives with Kairi. I'm all alone." He shrugged. "So? I don't have a good future here, so I'm not staying." "What do you mean 'future'?" He sat on the steps to his Gummi Ship. "Nobody likes me here, no one cares about me." "I like you, Sora. No matter what Yuffie says about you." "But not the way I like you." I looked at him. "What?" "I love you, Aerith! I want to be with you forever!" He stood up and walked over to me, gazing down at me regretfully. "But you don't love me back." "I do love you, Sora!" I wailed. "You liked Roxas more." He leaned down and kissed me on my lips, then walked back into his Gummi Ship. I wanted to hold the kiss, but he pulled away. "Sora.." "Goodbye, Aerith." He said silently. I ran over to him, grabbing his arm before he could close the door. "Sora, don't leave me!" He smiled. "I'll miss you the most. Tell Yuffie that I said she's finally won." He kissed me on the cheek, then closed the door, leaving me depressed and lonely. Ćhåptęr Thręė I trudged back home, my heart heavy. Sora was gone, and most likely not coming back. I felt a tear slide down my cheek, then another. I sighed and brushed them away with the back of my hand. I didn't need to cry. I stopped in my driveway, instantly seeing Sora's Gummi Ship. I was elated to see it, but also curious as to why it was here. I shook my head and ran up the steps, opening my unlocked front door. He was definatley inside. "S-Sora?" I called. "Yeah?" He appeared in the doorway, smiling. "Hey Aerith." I smiled and hugged him tightly. "I thought you were leaving!" He laughed. "I was, but I thought I'd leave you something.. To remember me by." I pulled away from him. "But I'll never forget you." He chuckled. "Yuffie will make you forget all about me." Suddenly, Yuffie was behind me, her ninja stars out, and drawn back as if to attack. "Step away from Aerith RIGHT now!" She snapped. Sora held up his hands in a chilled defense. "I'm not hurting her, Yuffie. I just came by to tell her goodbye." Yuffie flung her ninja stars at him, one catching him in the shoulder. "Yuffie!" I shouted as I ran over to him, trying to stop the blood coming out of his wound. She sneered at him, then in a flash, she was gone. "Sora! Are you okay?" I asked repeatedly. He nodded. "I just wanted you to remember me, Aerith. But it seems Yuffie doesn't want that." With that being said, Sora walked out. I shook my head. "Sora.." He snorted and climbed into his Gummi Ship, then took off up into the air. Sora was gone, and most likely not returning. Chapter Four I brushed the hair out of my face, trying very hard to keep the tears at bay.