Alisha sat on her bed, thinking about the last few weeks. About a month ago she was Naomi, living a normal life in what her new friends called Reala. Now she was Alisha from the Animate World. The night she became Alisha, her boyfriend drowned. And as if that wasn't enough, she discovered she wasn't even "Realan"...she was one of the two Inanimates left in existence. She also found out she had a special superpower...she was Pheonix. Jonathan walked into the room, making Alisha jump. "Am I bothering you?" he asked. Jonathan was Alisha's best friend. He had saved her from drowning that day she came to the Animate World. In fact, he was the one who brought her here. "No, you're not bothering me," she assured him. "I was just thinking." "You do a lot of that lately." A troubled look passed over Alisha's face. "Jonathan, it isn't any trouble for me to stay here, is it?" She had been staying at his house, since she had nowhere to stay. "How many times do I have to tell you it's not?" "I don't know...it's just that sometimes I feel as though I don't belong here..." "There's no problem with you being here! Besides," he added, hugging her, "You're like a sister to me anyway." That was certainly true. They had become so close in those few weeks, they might as well have been family. "If you say so..." Alisha replied, still unconvinced. She turned away again and gazed out the window absently. Jonathan decided to leave her alone. He shut the door quietly behind him. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ That night Alisha had a nightmare. The Realans had found some way to get into the Animate World and were attacking everyone and everything within sight. She and Jonathan tried to stick together, but eventually were split up. She searched for him desperately, and spotted him a few feet away from her. Everyone was screaming. She heard a shot. It was heading straight for... ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ "NO!!!!!!!!" She screamed, waking up quickly. Jonathan ran to her from the next room. "Alisha! What's wrong??" She felt herself shaking in fear. "I-I had a bad d-dream..." He walked over to her. "It's okay...nothing happened..." She looked up at him, unsure. "Maybe not yet...but I have a feeling we're all in for a lot of trouble." ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The next day they went to the hotel to see their friend, Seiji. Jonathan knocked on the door. Seiji opened the door, looking a little groggy. "What do you want?" Jonathan raised an eyebrow. It's almost noon and you're STILL asleep?" Seiji shrugged. So I'm not a morning person. Er...hi, Alisha..." he added, blushing as her noticed her. Alisha glanced at him shyly. She had a crush on Seiji, and she had a feeling he liked her, too. "So why are you waking me up again?" he asked, still looking at Alisha. "Alisha just got up too...she didn't sleep too well last night. She had a bad dream," Jonathan explained. "What about?" Seiji asked her. Alisha just shook her head. "I don't really want to talk about it..." Jonathan recalled something. "You think this is something we should bring to Lazaar? He did say that visions might be part of your new powers, you know." Seiji looked confused. "Lazaar? Why would Alisha have to talk to him? And what powers??" He eyed Alisha suspiciously. Alisha sighed. "I'll explain later. Jonathan, I think maybe Lazaar should know about this. Seiji-san, I'm sorry we have to leave so soon. We'll try to come back later." "Alisha, before you go, can I talk to you for a minute? Alone?" Alisha glanced at Jonathan, who nodded. "I'll be outside." Alisha followed Seiji to a far corner of the tower. "So...what did you want?" she asked. Seiji cleared his throat. "Um, Alisha...I was wondering if...maybe you would want to...uh, go out with me sometime?" he looked at her anxiously. "Of, course, if you don't want to that's fine...I just thought I'd ask!! After all, I do live in Tokyo...that's kind of far away..." he added nervously. Alisha smiled. "Seiji-san, of course! I..was hoping you would ask me anyway." Seiji breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought you'd say no! I...kinda figured Jonathan was already your boyfriend." He looked down sheepishly. "My boyfriend!" she exclaimed. "Seiji-san, Jonathan is my best friend...he could even be considered my brother, really. You wouldn't date a family member, would you?" Seiji laughed softly. He was glad she had said yes. Alisha and Seiji stared at each other for a moment. Before she knew what was happening, he leaned forward and kissed her. It took her by surprise, but she closed her eyes and kissed him back. "Hey, Alisha, are you ready yet?" Alisha and Seiji both jumped in surprise. The looked at Jonathan standing at the door with a shocked stare. Then he began to laugh. "I didn't know I was interrupting!" "Great timing, Jonathan," Alisha said, rolling her eyes. "I'll see you later, Seiji-san," she said, smiling at him. Seiji grinned. "You better get going. Ja ne!" ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ When Alisha and Jonathan got back outside, Jonathan looked at her strangely. "I didn't know you liked Seiji-san," he said quietly. "Neither did he. He called me over to ask me out. He thought I would say no," she replied. "You kissed him?" "Well, he kissed me first...I just kissed back," she smirked. Her grin faded when she saw his face. "Are...are you mad at me?" He looked at her for a second, then turned away. "Of course not. It's just..." "What's the matter?" Jonathan bit his lip, then continued. "You two reminded me of Yumi..." His voice faded away. "Who's Yumi?" "She was my girlfriend. She moved back to Japan a few weeks before I saved you. We decided that a long-distance relationship wouldn't work too well, so we broke up. But I love her too much to find someone else. Knowing her," he said wistfully, "She's found a new boyfriend already. She's so pretty, she could have any guy she wants." Alisha wasn't sure what to say. "If she loves you too, she won't." She knew it wasn't very helpful, but it was all she could think of. She thought of Tim, who she was sure was going to dump her...before the accident. *I've got someone to fall back on, but Jonathan doesn't,* she thought sadly. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Soon they arrived at Lazaar's lab. By then Jonathan looked as though he was feeling better. the building wasn't as creepy to Alisha as it was the first time, But it still sent a small chill down her spine. Jonathan opened Lazaar's door. "Come in, boy," Lazaar said distractedly. "Alisha needs to talk to you about a dream she had," Jonathan explained. "Not every dream she has will be vision," Lazaar pointed out irritably. "But this one seems like it might be," Alisha argued, "In this dream, the Realans found a way to the Animate World and there was this weird lady all in black with glowing red eyes and..." Lazaar spun around and held her shoulders firmly. "Alisha, are you completely sure this is what you saw? There is no mistake whatsoever?" Alisha nodded. Lazaar let her go and turned away. He seemed deep in thought. He then turned back towards Alisha. "Let me explain to you as best I can. Your dream was important...unfortunately. That woman with red eyes was The Malevolent. It may mean that soon she will be set free, probably by accident. She will somehow bring the Realans to this World, and the Realans, aware of their history, will come to launch a war against us. "Alisha, you are part of both worlds. You must decide which side you are going to be on. If you are with us, it is going to be very difficult for you. The Malevolent is on the Realans' side, and you are extremely vulnerable to her power. She is out to kill you. Also, chances are you may be up against your real brother, the other Inanimate. If you are on the Realans' side, you would be safe. Please consider your decision carefully. You two should go now," he concluded. "I need to know by tomorrow. I'm sorry to rush you, but I must know so I can send you back in time." ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Outside the building, Alisha weighed her choices carefully. She wasn't sure whether or not she felt up to facing the danger. Then again...how could she leave all she had gained here behind? Jonathan saw how confused she looked, and knew he had to say something. He turned to face her. "Alisha, I know that part of you wants to stay because of me and Seiji-san. You shouldn't let anything stand in the way of your decision. It all depends on if you are ready to do this or not." "What do you think?" Alisha asked him. "I dunno. I don't want to lose you...but I don't want to see you hurt, either." *And I have to figure this out by tomorrow!* she thought. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Neither Alisha nor Jonathan slept that night. They decided to sleep in the same room, since both were too worried to be alone. "Jonathan, if I decide to leave...you won't think any lesser of me, will you?" "No, I won't." "Do you think Seiji-san will?" "If he really loves you, he shouldn't." Alisha was silent after that. She didn't feel like laying down, so she wandered over to the window. She sat on the wide windowsill and looked out. The night was starry and there was a full moon. It was just like the night that Tim...she missed him so much. A stray thought popped into her mind. She turned to look at Jonathan, who was now standing behind her. He obviously couldn't sleep either. "If I went back to the Realan World, I would be sent back in time, right?" "We can't send you back to drown, can we?" he replied, sitting on the sill beside her. "So Tim wouldn't have drowned either, right?" The smile left Jonathan's face. "I guess so," he said, trying to hide the disappointment in his voice. "Do...do you think you might go back?" he asked softly. "I might," Alisha responded, not looking up at him. A tear rolled down Jonathan's cheek. He had told her he didn't care one way or the other, but he hadn't realized then that she might seriously leave. Neither of them spoke for the rest of the night. At some point, Jonathan fell asleep. Alisha sat and thought long and hard about what she was to do the next day. She went back and forth between wanting to go back and wanting to stay. By dawn, she knew what she had to do. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The next day Alisha and Jonathan walked wordlessly into Lazaar's lab. "Have you reached a decision?" he asked Alisha. "Yes," she answered seriously, "I have." Jonathan closed his eyes. He felt for sure now she wanted to leave. "I've decided to stay." he looked up, surprised. Lazaar looked at Alisha gravely. "Are you certain you are ready to face whatever you are up against here?" "I've been through a lot lately, and I think I'm pretty tough," she answered , tying hard to hide her nervousness. Lazaar stared at her, as though he was testing to see if she really took this seriously. "So be it, then. You may go now." He turned and walked away. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ "Are you sure you feel up to this, Alisha?" Jonathan asked cautiously when they got home. "It will probably be pretty rough on you." Alisha sighed, shaking her head. "I thought you'd be grateful that I'm staying...so why are you acting like you want me to leave?" "I am glad you're staying...I just can't understand why you're staying!" "I never liked living there. People are mean. The only time I was ever happy was when I was with..." she trailed off. "But if you had gone back, you'd go back in time. Tim would have still been there." "If you don't want me here, I'll gladly go back!" Alisha snapped. "I didn't have to stay here, you know." She narrowed her eyes at him. "NO! I-I didn't mean that I want you to go! I just thought you wanted to. The way you were talking last night, I figured you would go back!" he stammered. He lowered his eyes slowly. "I thought you would be safer there. I don't want anything to happen to you." Alisha saw that he was sincere. "Jonathan, nothing's going to happen to me. I have my magic to protect me. And if things get too shaky, I can always change myself into Pheonix," she assured him. Jonathan's fear seemed to melt away. "Hey, we promised Seiji-san we'd go back to his place yesterday!" he winked at her. "You two can continue where you left off!!" Alisha whapped him over the head with her pillow. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ "It's Sunday!! I could be watching the Giants game, but you're taking forever. Why does it always take you so long to rig dynamite?" a construction worker complained to his partner. "It's an old building!! Would you like a 50 pound slab of concrete to fly up in the air and land on your spine? That would look lovely," the other worker replied sarcastically. "Why is this thing coming down, anyway?" "There was no business. The owners said it was haunted," the first worker said with a laugh. The dynamite worker pulled the detonation switch, and two minutes the building was on the ground. The two workers shuddered as they saw a black figure with gleaming scarlet eyes rise from the wreckage. It gave a loud, evil laugh and flew away. The workers stared at each other in shock when it was gone. "What did you say that building was called?" the first one asked. "Um..." said the second, checking his papers, " 'The Malevolence Hotel.' " ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ *Alisha seems to be having fun.* Jonathan thought. *too bad I'm not part of it.* Ever since they arrived at Seiji's, Alisha hadn't paid much attention to Jonathan. Neither had Seiji, for that matter. *Well, they have a lot to talk about. She's doesn't see him as much as she does me.* Jonathan turned to face them. They were kissing...again. Jonathan couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. *Yumi, why did you have to leave me? We could have made long-distance work...* He suddenly saw a bright flash in front of him. *Please don't let this be the Transporter..* Alisha noticed the flash, too. She quickly pulled away from Seiji. "Oh, no...not now..." Seiji took her hand. "What is it?" Another bright flash and the three of them disappeared... ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ...And reappeared in the Monitor Room of Lazaar's lab. "I'm sorry to bring you here in such a rush, but-" he noticed Seiji-san standing with them. "Who is this?" he asked suspiciously. "This is Seiji, my...er...boyfriend," Alisha explained. "You... kind of interrupted us," she added, blushing. "Anyway, what's up?" Lazaar shook his head, disreguarding her comment. "I have just received word that The Malevolent was released from her prison this morning. There is no doubt that she is going to the Realans to take her vengeance." Alisha and Jonathan gasped, but Seiji looked confused. "Will SOMEONE please tell me what is going on here?" Alisha sighed. She had avoided telling him what was going on so he wouldn't get worried, but she couldn't leave him out of this any longer. She told him everything that had happened since the day she arrived. When she finished, Seiji seemed surprisingly calm. "I knew you were hiding something big," he said thoughtfully. "You seemed so distracted." "I considered disclosing this information, but it might cause a panic and we don't know how soon they will get here," Lazaar continued. "He sounds like a computer, doesn't he," Alisha whispered to Seiji, who stifled a laugh. "I heard that," sighed Lazaar. "Alisha, you will need to remain alert, because I have a feeling you'll know when they are about to arrive. I will try to arrange defenses. When the Realans do come, I will not have you helping us. I will call you in as a last resort." "But why? I could be really useful!" Alisha exclaimed. "You won't be useful if you're dead," Jonathan told her seriously. "The Malevolent will be looking for you more than anyone else, and you know what's going to happen if she finds you." He shuddered at that thought. "It's getting late. I'll send you home now. But remember, Alisha, be on your guard," he warned before activating the Transporer to send them back. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Alisha and Jonathan decided it was too late for to walk home. Jonathan called his mom and got permission to spend the night at the hotel. Seiji's roommates were gone for the night, so Alisha and Jonathan got their beds. It was another sleepless night for them. When dawn arrived, they sat around listening to the birds chirp. Suddenly, without warning, the birds stopped singing and all was completely silent. Seiji, Jonathan, and Alisha ran to the window and stared into the eerie quietness. "What was..." Jonathan whispered in alarm. "I know," Alisha answered, her face filled with worry. "I need to call Lazaar." Seiji left the room in a hurry as Alisha picked up the phone. "Hello?" Lazaar's voice came before she could dial. "Uh...hi," Alisha replied, confused. "I...I think something's happening." "How can you tell?" "It's too quiet." "Alisha, you should know by now that silence is nothing to get worked up about," Lazaar stated, sounding mad. "Not even when the birds stop chirping all at once for no obvious reason?" Lazaar thought for a second. "Alisha, I want you and Jonathan to go to the safest place you can think of and do not come out!! Do not stop anywhere!!! I will contact you if I need to. Now hurry!" he finished as he hung up the phone. "Lazaar said we have find the safest place we can think of and stay there," Alisha repeated to Jonathan. Seiji came running in. "Well?" "We have to find the safest place possible...wherever that is," Jonathan explained. Seiji nodded wisely. "Come on. I have the perfect place." ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ "A cave is your idea of a safe place?!?!" Alisha exclaimed. "We could be out in open area, for all the good a cave is going to do us!!!" "Would you just let me explain?" Seiji said irritably. "This cave has a door to it! And the door is part of the rock, so it will look like one big stone." "If the door is closed, how are we going to breathe?" Jonathan asked. "It's full of air holes, so we'll never run out of air." Seiji led the other two to he back of the cave. "I always like to be prepared for emergencies," he said grinning. Inside a small cavern to the side, there were tons on supplies: blankets, canned food(and a can-opener), matches, lanterns, water, bandages, and everything else they could possibly need. Beside the supplies was a small cavern full of knives, a sword, and a case of arrows with a bow. Alisha wondered why he would have emergency supplies in here when he lived in Tokyo, but she didn't bother to ask. "I didn't know how many people would be here with me, so I got as much of everything as I could," he explained. "there are a lot more caverns like this one." Alisha then heard a sound she hadn't heard in two months...a gunshot. They all rushed to the door. Far away, in the city, they saw a huge black door rising up in the air. More and more gunshots sounded. As distant from the city as they were, they could still hear people screaming. The war had begun. Alisha quickly closed the door to block out the horrible sounds. She turned around to find that Seiji had lit one of the lanterns and had set it on the ledge. "What do we do now?" he asked her quietly. Alisha lowered her eyes. "We sit and wait." ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The three woke the next morning cold. They cracked the door open just enough to see that it had snowed. There was already about three inches on the ground, and it was starting to come down harder. They knew they were in for a long winter. "I have important news for you, Alisha," a low voice said behind them. Alisha expected it this time. "What's up, Lazaar?" "You cannot use your magic while you are here. The Malevolent has a magic detector, and if she senses any sort of wizardry, she kills the person on the spot. You do, however, have a few powers that are not picked up, since they are not really considered sorcery. You have not used them at all, except once on Jonathan. I don't believe you even know they exist, but you must find them out on your own. "Anyone I find that desperately needs help, I will bring to you. They will be your responsibility. Good luck, Alisha..." he finished and vanished before Alisha could respond. "How am I supposed to take care of people?? What do I look like, a doctor??" Alisha yelled. Just then Seiji and Alisha heard a familiar scream. They rushed to the storage caves. Jonathan sat on the ground, clutching his right arm in pain. A few feet away from him, a large rattlesnake shook its tail at him cruelly, preparing to strike him a fifth time. Seiji snuck up behind the snake and stomped on it. He glanced at Jonathan, who was now unconscious, and then at Alisha. "Bandages, Dr. Brenner?" She bit her lower lip. "Please." She knelt down to feel his forehead. We'll need ice, too. Lots and lots of ice." ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Lazaar watched carefully over the patients in the hospital. Alisha couldn't use her magic to help her..and neither could he. He used his best knowledge of medicine to try and relieve the miserable people of their pain, but he knew most of them would not make it. Animates were hard to destroy...but only with high spirits. When the people became scared and lost hope, they made themselves unstable and could be easily hurt...or even killed. Lazaar hoped Alisha was doing better than he was... ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Alisha had just finished wrapping Jonathan's bites. She felt the pack on his head. It had melted already. Seiji ran to get more ice...for the third time in the last ten minutes. Alisha popped the thermometer in Jonathan's mouth and watched as the temperature rose quickly. When it was done, she sighed as she read it. 116°. Seiji came back with the ice pack and pressed it to Jonathan's forehead. He looked anxiously at Alisha holding the thermometer. "Well?" "It's 116° now, "Alisha informed him sadly," and he just keeps getting worse. I-I don't know what else I can do for him." There was a bright flash of light and another Animate was laying on the cold cave floor. "This is great," Seiji mumbled, rolling his eyes. "Listen, I'll handle the newcomers and you stay with Jonathan, okay?" Alisha nodded as Seiji left to help the others. She placed her hand on Jonathan's forehead and closed her eyes. A few minutes later she fell to the floor, feeling extremely weak. She forced herself up to see Jonathan. He groaned and began to open his eyes. He sat up and looked at her. "Alisha, what's with you? Why are you on the floor? I thought I was supposed to be sick, not you!!" Ignoring his questions, she quickly shoved the thermometer back in his mouth and was relieved to find that his fever had dropped to 100°. "It must be one of those powers I can use!" she said excitedly. "I must be able to heal people!" "Well, it would explain why I didn't die of that blast you gave me the first day we met," Jonathan said thoughtfully. "It also explains why Lazaar said I could take care of people here," Alisha added. "Speaking of which, I'd better get out there. Seiji must have his hands full!" "Wait for me!!" Jonathan said, jumping up. "Alisha turned to face him, surprised. "You sure you feel up to it?" He unwrapped his bandaged arm and showed it to her. "See?" he said, sighting no scars whatsoever. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Alisha went out two days later to get some ice. Less people were coming in, almost none, and she wasn't sure whether this was good or bad. Seiji and Jonathan weren't doing too well. The cold was really getting to them, and it was beginning to get to her too. Suddenly she tripped and she landed in the soft snow. "Hey!! What the-" she cried as she went to examine what had tripped her. As she brushed the snow off of it, she gasped. It was a Realan! A young boy, as far as she could tell. *He must have gotten lost in the woods and collapsed!* she thought, frightened. Then Jonathan came to the door of the cave. When he saw what Alisha was staring at, his eyes widened. "Alisha! Get in here!!" Alisha gazed back down at the boy. He looked as if he'd been there for a while, and if no one else came through the woods, he didn't have a chance. "We have to help him," she said to Jonathan. "But he's a Realan! Look what his kind are doing to us," he said, staring out at the almost destroyed city. "When he wakes up, he'll try to kill us too." "But-" "Leave him there or I'll kill him," Jonathan said threateningly, holding up a knife he'd been using to open a can. Seiji stood behind a stone, watching in horror. They didn't know he was there. Alisha looked at him in shock for a moment. Then she walked up to him. "You want all Realans to be dead?" "They all deserve it!" She took his knifed hand and aimed it at her own heart. "Go ahead then...start with me," she told him, staring straight into his face. He looked at her, startled for a moment, but didn't move his hand. "Why should I kill you?? You're an Animate!" "No. I'm an Inanimate, meaning I'm half Realan as well as Animate. If you are going to kill the Realans, you might as well start with me," she answered, closing her sapphire eyes. In spite of her, he slowly pushed the knife up to her until the sharp tip pressed hard against her skin. Alisha still stood firm, and Seiji looked away, resisting the urge to bash Jonathan's head in. Jonathan hesitated for a few minutes, then dropped the knife to the ground, ashamed. He waited until she opened her eyes, then glanced at the boy still lying there. "Bring him in," he whispered, leaving without giving her another look. Seiji rushed to the door as soon as Jonathan was out of view. He saw Alisha start to shiver and threw a blanket to her. "Need some help?" he asked quietly as Alisha struggled to lift the Realan into the cave. As Seiji bent down to help her, he said, "I saw what just happened, you'll have to forgive him. He...hasn't been himself lately." "I noticed." Alisha stared up at him, looking a bit scared. "Two things: Do you mind that we're helping a Realan, and do you think that Jonathan would have actually killed me?" Seiji sighed. "I honestly don't mind helping a Realan. You can't judge a person on their race..uh...species--er...well, you know." "What about the second question?" Seiji sighed again, not wanting to answer that. "If he was really mad enough...yes, he could have killed you." Alisha stayed away from Jonathan for the rest of the night. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The next morning Jonathan saw that Alisha had gotten up early. She had a thick blanket wrapped tight around her and she was knelt by the boy she'd brought in last night. He walked up behind her and put his hand on her shoulder. Alisha quickly pulled away from him. "Alisha, I'm sorry about what I did last night, but what I said was true. This boy could be dangerous! What's going to happen whan he wakes up? I just don't want to see you hurt, that's all." Alisha turned to face him angrily. "Why do you care? You think all Realans are evil...then why did you save me? For all you knew, I could have killed you as soon as I woke up. And yesterday...yesterday you actually considered stabbing me," she said, her voice wavering. Jonathan felt sorry for what he did, but her words raised his anger. "Maybe I shouldn't have saved you," he said in a low voice. "I should have left you to drown with that dumb boyfriend of yours." Seiji heard this and went to Alisha's side. "Jonathan, leave her alone. She didn't do anything. I think you should go somewhere else until you cool off," Seiji suggested. Jonathan narrowed his eyes at both of them. "Fine. I'll go fight with the Animates, MY people, and you two can join the Realan ranks. Seiji, you've turned into a traitor. Alisha doesn't belong here at all. She's a Realan, not an Animate! I ever see her again, I WILL kill her!!" he yelled as he grabbed a jacket and stomed out the door. At his last two remarks, Alisha burst into tears. Seiji held her close. "It's okay," he assured her. "He won't do anything. As soon as he calms down, he'll be back." But Seiji sounded doubtful. He knew how hot-headed Jonathan could get, and if he was really that upset, it might be a long time before he returned. Suddenly the boy on the ground beside them started to move. Alisha leaned towards him, anxious at to what he would do. The boy sat up shaking his head for a moment. He grabbed the blanket that had been laying on top of him and pulled it around himself to warm up. When he opened his eyes and saw Alisha and Seiji, he gasped in surprise and dove backwards, scared. Alisha got up and spoke quicky. "It's okay! We won't hurt you! We found you outside. You were frozen and we brought you here to help you," she explained. "You won't hurt us, will you?" The boy hesitated for a minute. He knew he wasn't supposed to trust Animates, but this one seemed different...almost familiar. He shook his head. Alisha sighed in relief. "Good. I'll go get something to eat, you must be hungry. Anything you want in particular?" "I...I'm kind of thirsty." "I'll get you some water." As Alisha ran to get the food, she couldn't help thinking that she knew this boy. Lately, she'd forgotten most of the things from her former life...she didn't even remember her friends and family. *Well, if he's impotant, it'll come to me.* Alisha and Seiji had already eaten lunch, so they sat and watched the boy eat. Alisha couldn't help staring at him. She remembered someone so much like this boy. His dark hair, his deep brown eyes..everything about him seemed so familiar. She still couldn't place him, though. The boy was thinking the same thing of Alisha. Although her looks didn't ring a bell, her personality was too much like his girlfriend's to go unnoticed. He remembered vividly the night he had lost her. *Why'd she have to drown?* he thought sadly. Then he noticed the locket around her neck. It looked exactly like... "Where did you get that locket??" he asked suddenly. Alisha was startled for a second, then realized she still had that locket. She pulled it off and looked at it, trying to recall where it had come from. "I-I'm not sure," she admitted. "Can I see it?" She handed it over. *It looks like the one I gave her,* he thought. he flipped it over and gasped as he read the inscription: Naomi- I will love you always, Tim *This is her locket!!* he thought. "What did you say your name was again?" "I didn't, but it's Alisha Brenner, and this is Seiji, my boyfriend," she answered suspiciously. "What's yours?" "Tim." *Tim.* The name echoed through her head. "But you can't be!!! You drowned months ago!!!" Now it was Seiji's turn to look confused. "Huh? What are you guys talking about? Alisha, you know this guy?" Alisha then remembered he was still standing there. "Seiji-san," she said quietly,"do you mind if he and I talk for a while? Alone?" Seiji seemed a little upset, but he nodded and went to one of the caverns. "Who are you really? Do I know you?" Tim asked when Seiji-san had left. "Tim, it's me. Naomi." Tim's jaw dropped. "But how?" Alisha sighed. "It's a LONG story." ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ After Alisha finished telling him what had happened, he shut his eyes, trying to let all of it sink in. He opened them again and grasped her hand. "Naomi, this is really strange. You don't know how miserable I was when I thought that you had died." "Yes, I do," she told him, moving closer to him, "I felt the same way about you. How did you survive, anyway?" "Well, you know I'm a strong swimmer, but I got tangled in some rope when we fell out of the boat. By the time I got free, I was too weak to get to the surface. I saw you out there, and I didn't think you would make it, either. I went unconscious about then, and when I woke up in the hospital, a diver told me what happened. He saw our boat crash and swam over to find survivors. He found me and dragged me to the top. I asked him if any others were found, but he said he didn't see anyone else on land or underwater. I-I assumed that you had drowned..." he finished as he started to cry. "I missed you so much," he whispered as he gave her a big hug. Alisha was crying too. "I missed you too. But I didn't know you still cared. When you were acting so strange on the boat that night, I thought you were going to break up with me!!" "Break up with you?! Naomi, I love you!! Why would I do something like that??" "And that blank locket you gave me..." "Blank??" he looked bewildered. "It wasn't blank!" He handed it to her and showed her the inscription on the backside. "Oh," she murmered, looking sheepish. They talked for a while longer. Then Alisha began to sense that something was wrong. Tim knew it, too. "Do you smell smoke?" he asked, sniffing the air. Suddenly they heard someone trying to yell for help. "SEIJI!!!" They ran to the section of caverns that Seiji had been in. Red flames were shooting out of the cove on the very end. Inside they saw a huge wall of fire, and Seiji was surrounded by it. The wall was quickly closing in on him, and Seiji was coughing and gagging from the smoke. Tim ran to get the heaviest blanket he could find and laid it on top of the pyre, making an entranceway for Tim to climb in and pull Seiji out. Alisha ran outside and grabbed as much snow as he could carry and dumped it on the flames. The fire went out. She looked back at Seiji, who was still choking and gasping. "He'll be all right," Tim told her, "I think he's a little shaken, that's all." They glanced around at the other caverns. A lot of them had also caught on fire from the sparks, but had burned themselves out. Still, more than half of their remaining supplies were nothing but ashes. They had three months of winter still ahead of them, and the weather just kept getting colder. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Joanthan sat under a tree deep in the woods, his mind full of regrets. He'd been walking for what felt like hours, and he was freezing, even with the heavy jacket he had taken with him. He knew that when night fell it would be much colder. If he didn't find shelter soon, he'd be dead by morning. For an instant he thought of Alisha and Seiji, sitting in that cave. They had all they needed to last the winter. He considered going back, but he realized that it was impossible. They would never let him back in after the way he'd treated them. Jonathan struggled to get up, but as soon as he got to his feet he collapsed back to the ground. He looked all around him for a place to stay, but he knew it was hopeless. He leaned against the tree again and curled up, trying to shut out the paralyzing cold. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Alisha began to get worried about Jonathan. It was almost night and they hadn't seen him since that morning. Even after he way he'd insulted them, she couldn't help it. She walked over to Seiji to talk with him. "Seiji-san, I think we should go look for Jonathan." Seiji stared at her as if she were crazy. "But you heard what he said this morning! He'll kill you if he sees you again!!" "I wouldn't worry about that. He has no way of hurting me now. He took a jacket with him, that's all." Seiji paused a little longer, then took his coat and put it on. "Let's go, then." Tim walked in from the caverns. "Hey, where are you guys going?" "A friend of ours got mad this earlier and left. We're worried about him," Seiji explained. Tim nodded. "I'll come with you." The three headed out. They decided not to yell for him, since Realans might be in the woods. They stayed together and combed the whole area with no luck. They searched until they had gotten five miles from their cave. It was dark now, and all three of them had their lanterns lit. They looked a few minutes longer, but no one expected anything. They had to head back before it got too cold. Alisha glanced around once more and noticed something near a tree. She went take a closer look and saw Jonathan, propped up against the tree. He was stiff, and so numb he couldn't shake anymore. He felt a warm hand against his, and gathered the last of his energy to look up and see Alisha sitting beside him. He noticed the Realan try lift him up, but Jonathan was too weak to object. He gazed at Alisha helplessly for an instant longer before his eyes fell shut. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Jonathan slowly awoke two days later. He still didn't feel fine, but at least he wasn't numb anymore. Alisha was seated beside him. "Good morning," she said softly. Jonathan suddenly recalled why he had left in the first place and felt even worse. He attempted to get up, but got so dizzy he plopped down on his pillow again. "Alisha...I..." Alisha held a finger to her lips. "Don't talk. You don't need to say anything." He continued anyway. "I'm sorry...the way I treated you...I didn't mean it..." She smiled grimly. "It's all right." "Well, could you fill me in on what went on while I was out?" Alisha sighed. "Let's see...the boy we saved woke up..." her face suddenly broke into a large grin. "Guess who he is? It's Tim!!" He looked amazed. "Really?? But I thought he had drowned!!! Hey, now I don't have to feel bad about it any more!" "Now what else? Oh yeah...we had a fire in here the day you left and half of our supplies are gone. It's just five of is here, and Lazaar sent in some extra stuff yesterday, so I think it will be okay." Jonathan seemed puzzled now. "Five? But it's only me, you, Seiji-san, and Tim, isn't it..?" Alisha's eyes sparkled mischieviously. "That's the other bit of good news. We have a newcomer. And I think you'll be really happy about this one!!" She ran out the door quickly. "Don't stay in there too long...he needs his rest." Then a familiar face peeked into his room. "Hi, Jonathan." Jonathan stared in shock. It took him a moment to recover. "Yumi?" The two looked at each other for what seemed like forever, until Yumi rushed forward and hugged him tightly. He then knew it would alright.