Well, hello everyone! waves I have successfully completed another chapter of this fic of mine. I have also have managed to read other fics that have a gender-change plot to it! There are more now too, wow, and some are really good. Waa… .:pokes at her fic:.

Anyways, enough with my writing disabilities: Thanks for reviewing the fic so far, I know I'm a very slow updater. But I try, I really do. Seriously. But I can't push myself to write really…plus I have another story project that I'm working on, that I'm not planning to post on any website. Anyway I have been on a roll in writing it…already on chapter five! (Yes that's an accomplishment)

So, enjoy and review if the chapter seems worthy enough! bounces away

PS: Welcome back, Choco-Gal! waves and glomps

HELP! I'm Trapped…In a girls Body!?

Chapter Five: Kari Puppies = Disaster! Part 2

The sun beamed in the sky, letting out cheerful rays as the four teenagers (and their doggy friend) made their way to the town's mall. Kairi and Selphie had looks of excitement on their faces; after all since when did they get to play dress up with a real live Riku doll and live to tell the tale? This was a priceless moment if there ever was one.

Riku and Sora on the other hand, unfortunately did not share their enthusiasm as the two fell behind the grinning girls. Sora had a look of one who was awaiting a torture sentence, on his face. While Riku had a look of one who was just sentenced. And it wasn't a good sentence either.

"Thanks…for coming," Riku finally let out softly, inwardly frowning at the fact that the words stuck to his tongue like glue when in fact they would normally have been quite simple to say. His throat seemed to be dry as well and he wished he had packed some water before they had left. But there was no time for things like that when you're too set on throwing rocks at Selphie's head. Sora returned the comment with a quick and polite smile.

"Oh, no problem," Riku nodded, but wasn't fooled. Sora was only being polite when in reality he knew that either Kari or Selphie had most likely tied his poor best friend up until he agreed to go. Riku smiled at the silly images that came alive in his mind.

"Why are you smiling?" asked Sora, frowning at Riku. Riku blinked in surprised, being caught of guard. Immediately his usual blush fled to his cheeks causing him to look embarrassed.

I will conquer you, you stupid blush reflex…

"Oh…um…I…it-it was nothing," he sputtered out softly while deep inside there was a fit of rage boiling. What was with this diseased girl body? Every comment anyone made he ended up stuttering like an idiot and blushing as red as a sunburned Tidus.

Well not when everyone says something, just-

Finish that sentence, and you will burn.

Riku blinked again while Sora was saying something but he wasn't listening. Now he was really loosing it….arguing with himself? Himself!

That's what you think…

What?

"Huh?"

"Rika!"

"WHAT?"

Riku came back to earth when he saw his friends staring at him in disbelief. Riku felt another hot blush creep up on him as Selphie began to shake her head while Sora and Kairi just blinked in surprise, the dog still being held safely in her arms. It had it's tongue hanging out greedily and blinking it's big eyes at Riku as well.

"We just wanted to say that we reached…" said Kairi almost tentatively. Riku tore his gaze away from the group of gawking friends and started to pay more attention to his surroundings.

They had indeed reached to the spacious mall, with it's light tanned bricks. Wide windows with clear, clean panes filled them, showing the bustling of people from inside. Riku narrowed his eyes in distaste as he spotted flashing signs of stores and the rush of voices flew to his ears all at once.

The mall. The place that could make a sane man go crazy due to shopping with his girlfriend. He snatched a quick glance at Sora who had stop staring at him with the others and instead began to look uneasy, eying the mall in annoyance.

Of course Selphie and Kairi chose to ignore these looks and kept right on beaming their happy smiles as they squealed in delight. O the joy of the bargains they would make, and the clothes and accessories they would buy! Who wouldn't be ecstatic?

One boy and one half boy, that's who.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Said Selphie, putting her hands on her hips and tapping her sandaled feet on the ground. She was bursting with energy and desperately wanted to get inside to surround herself in shopping. Kairi nodded enthusiastically. Sora gave a low groan and Riku gave a small sigh as he rubbed the ankle with the silver charm bracelet against his other ankle.

They were about to step inside the building when a guard chose his moment to step out. He was muscular guard, but not scary-on-steroids muscular. He had extremely dark skin and wide brown eyes that shone a welcome as he stepped aside for the teenagers to pass. His face expression slowly turned to that of a frown when he saw what was squirming in Kairi's arms. He tapped her on the shoulder lightly when she tried to pass and shook his head.

"I'm sorry Miss. You'll have to stay outside with your dog, we can't have pets in the mall," he said, looking genuinely sorry. His voice had a soothing accent to it and Kairi gave a small smile, but her eyes held disappointment. Selphie chose her time to step forward to try her method of persuasion. The guard raised his eyebrows but smiled at her attempt.

"Please, can my friend take her dog? He's just a little puppy, he won't do anything! We'll be extra careful, I swear we will!" The guard shook his head, and Sora sighed as if he wanted to hurry up and get the mall experience over with. Riku stared at the scene before him in interest, wanting to see if Selphie would succeed. Plus…that guard was a cutie.

…I did not just think that.

Of course you did….well part of you did….

…what!? No I didn't! He's NOT a cutie!

Yes he is. But not as cute as-

And you will shut up in five…..four….

He is VERY cute, look at him!

Three….

Too bad, a bit older…

TWO…..

Or maybe he isn't? ask what age he is….

ONE…….

Wow you can count to five…and backwards too…so impressive…

ZERO!

"Shut up!" Riku yelled out loud startling Selphie, Kairi, Sora, the puppy and the guard.

Again he wanted to take his tender fists and stuff them deep down his throat which would, if he was lucky, kill himself. But of course luck seem to be running away from him, and he would probably only end up damaging himself and looking even more stupid.

"….um…Rika?" hissed out Selphie, her eyes burning into his. Sora moved closer to him and whispered harshly in his ear.

"Hey Rika, the guard just said he'd watch the puppy for a half-hour for us…we were waiting for you to say thank you-"

"So tell us what possessed you to say 'shut up'!?" shirked Selphie, as she yelled in his ear. Kairi just turned a dark shade of red and look away, the golden puppy still held against her. The guard frowned at Riku, looking extremely confused and a bit put off.

"I-I….I'm, sorry…I wasn't thinking-"

"You got that right!" chimed in Selphie, hands on her hips. Sora promptly poked her in the rib.

"Selphie, shut it," his said with a half sigh. He then shot a sympathetic look Riku's way, but he could see it was glazed over in pure politeness. Sora wasn't being open to him as normal…but why would he? Riku was now Rika, and for all Sora knew, this was the girl he had accidentally walked in on and he didn't want to get on her bad side anymore. Best to just stay polite.

"What I mean was," started Riku again, shooting a hard look at Selphie, "Was that my mind was somewhere else…I guess," he ended his explanation with a shrug. The guard didn't seem convinced but he gave a curt nod. His eyes weren't as friendly as they started out to be, but he motioned for the three teens to continue on.

"Thank you again!" said Kairi full of cheerfulness as she handed over the puppy. The small dog began to whimper being out of the safety of her arms, but stopped when he saw another friendly looking face.

As the four teenagers walked on, the guard called back out to them, "Hey! You sure he won't be any trouble?"

Selphie fumed. "Why is it that you automatically assume that the dog is a guy?"

"Now who's being rude?" muttered Riku as she watched Selphie shout at the guard who she, just a few minuets ago, was expressing her gratitude to. Luckily the comment went undetected from the raging Selphie. The guard blinked in surprise, then gave a smile.

"Oh…didn't mean to offend….I already checked…" He trailed off by the raised eyebrows that Selphie, Riku and Sora were giving him. Sora shook his head and glanced at the smiling Kairi.

"I think you've met your match Kairi," he said with a laugh and the shake of his head. Riku was surprised at the comment from his best friend. Though, that should have been the farthest thing from his mind at the moment. He was about to face much torture.

"Oh don't worry! He's well trained and everything!" Kari called out, with a wave of her hand. The guard gave another nod as the teenagers walked inside of the mall, calls and shouts engulfing them. Sora frowned at Kairi while trying (with much failure) to ignore the sounds of the busy mall.

"How do you know the puppy's trained?" Kairi smiled and shrugged.

"Well to find it's way to our little island from the water, it must be pretty strong! Besides, even so, the guard man looked strong enough to handle one widdle puppy! What could happen? besides he was cute too!" with that, Kairi let out a fit of giggles, followed by Selphie. Riku, to his horror, too felt the temptation to let out a few giggles as well. He thought desperately to stop the embarrassing action that would greatly damaged his already shattered, butchered and burned pride-

…Well when put that way….

How much more damage could be done to his already dead pride?

So he joined in with the high pitched giggles of his two other friends, all the while trying to shut himself up in the least painful way was possible.

"…You know Kairi you might have just jinxed us. Whenever people say that, something always happens….hey you girls can stop laughing now!……Rika, I know you're giggling and all…. but you look like you're in pain…..oh forget it."

Poor girls. Maybe if they had just listened to Sora (for once), things might have turned out differently…

But of course no did! Because if they did, what would be the fun in that?

"How about that one?"

"No."

"This one?"

"No."

"Aw! How about this one? It's so cute!"

"What is it? It looks like an oversized bandana! And it's even missing some parts!"

"No, that's the skirt…"

"Excuse you? That would only come half way!"

"…That's the point!"

"No!"

"Can we stop to eat?"

"NO!"

The last pitiful question was made by a tired Sora who was lagging behind. The only reason that Riku wasn't lagging as well, was due to the fact that Kairi and Selphie kept their grip of death on both of his arms. Chances of escape were pretty much zero, just how the two girls liked it.

"Oh! This is soooo much fun!" squealed Selphie in high pitched voice. She was just bursting with energy, not like that was anything unusual, as she skipped, yes skipped, around the mall with a just as cheerful Kairi. The two girls looked like they had stars in their eyes. Forget about going on shopping sprees for themselves! Dressing up Riku, and not having to face murder afterwards, was far more interesting!

"Hey Kairi," said Sora, gazing in a direction that the others weren't looking. "Isn't that the security guy?" Riku blinked, and turned around trying to see where Sora was pointing, thankful for a distraction.

"Where?" he asked. "And will you two quit it with the skipping?!"

"Poo, you're no fun Rika…" muttered Selphie. She then stopped and surveyed the mall. "Oh there he is, I wonder what he wants?"

The guard stormed up to them, a scowl planted on his handsome face. On his hands were scratch marks that he was obviously not trying to hide. Kairi gave him a big grin, while the others stepped back a bit away from her. It seemed that the guard was staring only at Kairi.

"You," Hissed out the guard to Kairi. Kairi nodded, the grin still on her lips. "Yes sir, it's me. I'm Kairi, remember?" The guard stared at her, then went all BOOM and exploded.

"I don't care WHO you are, all I know is you better watch your own blasted dog from now on!" He waved his scratched hand in front of her face. Kairi's face suddenly went from happy to horrified. She stared at the hand, and then back to the scowling guard, ignoring the stares she was getting from passing shoppers.

"Oh-oh-no! You…" she gasped, one hand over her mouth. Riku raised a slender eyebrow. Sometimes Kairi became too over dramatic for him.

That's why it bugs you that you once liked her…or did you even, really?

Once?

You got that right, buddy.

Who are you calling buddy!?

La de da…I'm not listening to you…

"You…you left him alone!? How could you?" yelped Kairi, glaring at the guard. The guard had a look of surprise, obviously thinking that Kairi was worried about his poor hand. Kairi, on the other hand, was on a one track mind, only glancing at the hand and noting how scarred it look. Then it was right back to thinking about her doggy.

"Forget it!" he snapped and stomped away muttering under his breath, words that didn't need to be heard the twin toddlers he passed, in his stomping rage. Kairi on the other hand partially flew towards the entrance of the mall, bags nearly flying off her wrists as she rushed to make sure that the puppy was alright. Sora, Kairi and Riku shot each other confused looks, before dashing after her.

They found the little pup standing outside by the door. It let out a tiny bark as it saw Kairi, bounding towards her. Kairi threw down the bags, and ran to it, a big grin on her face. It immediately jumped into her open arms, seeming pleased to be back with it's original finder. Sora winced.

"Kairi! You're squeezing it death!" he warned.

"You dropped all the stuff!" protested Selphie, picking up the discarded shopping bags. Kairi grinned sheepishly, still snuggling the fuzzy animal to her cheek. It promptly licked it, wagging it's tail happily, brown eyes seeming to shine. Sora sighed, shrugged.

"Well what now? Kairi's not allowed back in the store….and since it'd be rude to leave her and all…maybe we can all just go out to eat…?" he asked hopefully, casting a look at Selphie as if she was the leader. The brown haired girl shot him a dirty look.

"Nice try Sora," Sora pouted, and Riku looked away from his face expression quickly, not wanting to start another fight with his mind and himself. No matter how scary that sounded. There was something going on, he was talking to himself, and his self was talking back. It didn't make any sense, but what did now? If he could turn into a girl he could have a argument with himself. How sad. However, he'd have to figure that out later, right now he just wanted to get out of this shopping business. He didn't want to even look at what his two crazy friends bought for him.

"…well come on!" exclaimed Selphie, looking at Riku expectantly, hands on her hips. Riku blinked in confusion. He saw Sora hide a smile.

"What?"

"We're going back inside!" So much for ditching shopping.

"What about Kairi?"

"Yeah, what about me!" Kairi protested, puppy still in arms. She looked unhappy and frowned at Selphie. The energetic girl waved Kairi's protests away, and shrugged.

"Don't worry Kairi, we're not going to be much longer. You need to stay out here with the dog," she said, looking at the wiggling puppy with distaste. Kairi pulled a pout, and Riku's lips tugged into a smile as she glanced at her.

Geez…now I'm staring at Kairi. Can't these hormones make up their mind?!

Quit blaming everything on hormones…

Oh great, it was back again.

Besides, Kairi's expression reminds you of….

Ho ho hum, still not listening to you…..

Baby.

Riku snapped out of his talkative thoughts when he felt a tug at his arm. It was Selphie, pulling at him, trying to get him to move. Riku yanked his arm back with a frown at Selphie, how gave him another look.

"You weren't moving!"

"You were staring at Kairi…" Sora trailed off, giving him an uncertain look. It was obvious that Sora was a bit suspicious of Riku's stare. Riku inwardly groaned. It was bad enough that he had a voice inside his head, that he was a girl, but now Riku thought that him, in his Rika, female from, liked Kairi.

His days just kept on getting better and better.

He prayed that Sora would not think about it more, and turn back into his innocent self and not be able to piece even more together. Luckily (For once! Luck! It was about time!) Sora seemed to shrug it off, and glanced at his two friends.

"Lets go," he said. And under his breath added, "and get this over with," which Selphie didn't hear. Lucky for Sora.

The three teens walked back inside the cool and bustling mall, leaving a frustrated Kairi. As they walked away a plan was already forming in her mind.

Disaster, anyone?

"Come out, Riku….er, Rika!" Selphie corrected, glancing over to Sora, hoping that he had missed her mistake. She didn't have to worry. The poor boy, who was standing just a bit outside the fitting room entrance, had his gaze directed at the food court that was just across from the clothing store they were currently in. He had a longing look on his face, taking it deep breaths to smell the aroma of the food that kept floating back to him. Selphie shook her head, and turned away from her friend.

There was a small "humpf" sound from behind the white fitting room door.

"I'm not coming out!" replied the stubborn voice. Riku's voice brought Sora back to reality, and he grinned, running a hand through his spiky brown hair.

"Why not?" he asked, from his spot outside the room.

"Because."

"Because, what?

"I look bad,"

"I'm sure you don't!" protested Sora, with laugh. Selphie smiled at the scene between the two. Sora seemed to be enjoying the company of Riku now that "he" was a "she". It was funny really. She had never seen the two best friends get along so well, when they were both boys. Always competing mocking each other. Over what? Kairi would have liked to believe that was over her, or that is what she said some time before. Selphie highly doubted it. She knew for a fact that Riku wasn't interested in Kairi at all. However, she couldn't say the same for Sora. And she had no idea what Kairi thought of any of that surprisingly, being best friends with the girl and all.

"And you yelled at Rika for being in her own little world?" teased Sora, over to Selphie, who went in defensive mode and putt her hands on her hips.

"Well-"

"Selphie?" came the soft voice of Riku. Selphie, turned to the fitting room door, curiously.

"Yeah?"

"I'm not coming out,"

"Oh really?" the girl asked, in a stern tone.

"Um…yeah, really," Riku responded dryly. Selphie knew he must be rolling his eyes.

The girl quickly stepped to the door, and grabbed Riku's original clothing that he had draped over the door as he put on the new clothes. She was too quick for Riku who had realized what she was about to do, at the last second when he saw his clothes falling away from him. Selphie saw a hand make a grab over the door, but she was safe. She grinned evilly, and Sora gave a loud burst of laughter.

"Selphie! Give them back!" shirked Riku.

"When you come out I will,"

"Selphie?"

"Yes?" she answered, all innocence.

"You're evil," it almost came out as a long whine.

"You forgot cute," she added smugly.

"Never!"

"Just come out Rika," Sora said with a sigh. The two of them looked back to the door, when they heard a squeak come from it.

Out stepped Riku slowly, his pale cheeks flushed his hands stiffly at his side. Selphie nodded approvingly, and in the corner of her eye she saw that Sora was almost staring, a blush capturing his cheeks as well. Obviously he liked what he saw, but it seemed as if he were surprised that he did like how Riku looked. Then the boys eyes traveled down Riku's legs to his feet. A small frown creased his face, but he then shook whatever thought he had away. The blush was still visible on his face. Selphie's eyes narrowed.

Well isn't this interesting… she said, smiling inwardly.

Riku stood stiffly. He was wearing a medium length yellow sundress, flowers stitched into the soft material. It hung loosely to him, but didn't give off the look that it was about to drop off with one step. On his feet were white sandals that Selphie had immediately spotted and loved, once they entered the store. They gave him more height and the bright, warm dress made his skim seem less paler. He looked great, which was what Selphie had concluded.

"I look horrible!" protested Riku, now in a whiny voice. He didn't like the bare feeling on his legs. He needed his usual pants back!

"No you don't!" said Sora. Riku and Selphie both smiled. They could tell that the boy was being honest. Sora grinned at Riku.

"Yeah you look great!" exclaimed Selphie, jumping up and down.

"She's right!" squealed a new, but familiar voice. A voice too familiar. Riku, Sora and Selphie swiftly turned around at the sound of the voice.

"Kairi!" they said in unison. Kairi winced at the loud greeting, and then glared at all the frowning faces.

"What?" she asked, trying to look innocent, but wasn't quite making it. She clutched her bags tightly, and then grinned sheepishly at her friends. "Hi?"

"You were supposed to be looking after that thing," Selphie said, with a raised eyebrow. Kairi stuck her tongue out at her best friend, and held her bags tighter.

"He's not a thing!" she whined, stomping her foot. All the while Riku was eyeing her bag. He slowly walked up to her, trying not to fall flat on his face with the sandals on his feet. Kairi started to look even more nervous, as Riku came closer to her.

"Did I mention you looked nice?" Kairi offered, weakly again. She received a stare from Riku.

"Let me see your bag," he said coolly, pointing to the shopping bag. Kairi rolled her eyes, and muttered something under her breath before she opened her bag up to Riku. Sora, who was also close to Kairi, since she had barley come into the fitting room, peered over to see what Riku was suspicious about. The two of them went wide eyed, and Kairi looked guilty.

"What? What is it?" Selphie asked, walking over. Sora and Riku exchanged "I can't believe this," looks.

"The puppy is in the bag," Sora said in a hushed whisper, shaking his head. Kairi scampered behind Sora, clutching his shoulders tightly, to escape the wrath of the angered Selphie.

Selphie on the other hand, did not explode in a million fiery pieces which would have hurled themselves right at the quivering Kairi. She took a deep breath, and narrowed her eyes at her best friend. Kairi looked to the ground, still behind Sora.

"No one will ever find-" Now, you would think Kairi would have enough sense not to say "No one will ever find out," especially since Sora had gone over the whole "jinxing" thing with her. Of course she didn't listen. Anyway, since Kairi is a Kairi, and no matter how smart she may seem to be…at times, her dense side shows up. And it's almost as bad as Sora's.

Before Kairi could finish her sentence, the puppy leaped out of the shopping bag, and charged itself right at Riku, tiny (but pointy) teeth barring. Riku let out an actual squeak and jumped to the side, nearly tripping on the heels of his sandal's. He had no time to yell at himself for making such a pathetic noise, since the puppy had changed it's course of charge, and turned to Riku's direction.

"What the-!?" Riku yelped, nearly jumping in the air. The puppy stood still for a moment, it's brown eyes locked on a quivering Riku.

What is with this!? he screamed to himself, now having time to do the yelling. I'm not afraid of dogs…..AND THIS IS A PUPPY FOR GOODNESS SAKES!

Jolly good for you, But I AM!

WELL, DEAL!

Riku tried to move away slowly. He knew he could move away, that he shouldn't have been afraid. But his body stayed planted by the wall, shaking for all it's worth. The puppy almost seemed to be laughing at the quivering half girl, knowing that it had the upper hand. Plus no one tried to stop him.

Instead of grabbing the maniac puppy, Riku's gang of "loyal" friends, were staring like surprised idiots, mouths hung open eyes wide, not making a sound.

"Hey, Yomi, do you hear…barking?" a voice from in the stores, but near to the fitting rooms asked. The question drifted to the ears of the four teenagers and one puppy.

"I think so…where's it coming from?"

Oh man, we are dead! Dead, doom, dead! repeated Sora in his mind, the voices of the two people, one girl and one boy, getting closer to the fitting room. He could see them talking to themselves, while walking over to investigate.

This was not good. This was so not good.

"Riku run!" shouted Selphie, coming to her senses first. Sora narrowed his eyes.

…Riku?

Zoom went the Riku, right out of the fitting room and unto the store.

"No! Not the store! Someone might see him!"

"Shut up and get movin', Kairi!"

"Look! It's a dog!" cried a random person in the stores, his green eyes widening in surprise to see the golden puppy chasing a silver haired girl out of the fitting room, it's shrill barks alerting people. Everyone immediately looked around, shouting and jumping up and down.

Pure Chaos.

"No, you think so, genius?" Riku snapped sarcastically, as he took a leap right over the counter, landing not as gracefully as he would have liked.

Stupid heels…I can't get very far in them. Rolling his eyes, he yanked the sandals off his feet. Better to go barefoot them breaking his ankles in heels.

"Good thing I snagged some shorts to wear under this stupid dress," he muttered to himself, his eyes scanning the rather small sized department store. People were checking under clothes racks and fallen clothes for the dog. With the cries and shouts, he couldn't even hear the puppy anymore.

"W-what do you think you're doing?" shirked the young lady behind the counter, pointing to Riku.

"I think to find that stupid dog!" he snapped back.

"There it is!" the girl named Yomi cried out, pointing to a golden blur exiting the store, and going back into the mall. Even people outside the store was noticing what was going on. A little boy pointed at the zooming dog.

"Rika!" Selphie cried, spotting Riku now standing on the counter. Sora and Kairi were with her as well.

"Where did he go?" wailed Kairi. Sora's eyes widened yet again.

"He's in the mall, over there! He's chasing that girl!" Riku rolled his eyes, and jumped of the counter, now making a more graceful landing, and ran outside the store, the alarms starting to ring as the scanners detected the dress that Riku hadn't paid for.

"Hey! Stop! Stop it, you have to pay-" shouted the cashier, jumping up and down, her face turning bright pink.

You have got to be kiddin' me! thought Riku, with a groan.

"Like I'd ever buy this stupid dress anyway! I'll return it, just shut up!" he roared, but it sounded softer then he wanted it to. It came out like a screech. Oh wonderful. No time to worry about it, for once. He had other problems to take care of, though all he seemed to be getting was problems and more problems.

Following the cries of what looked like a nine year old girl, wearing red shirt with dozens of flowers stitched into it, he was able to keep the puppy and girl in sight.

I don't think it likes flowers on clothes much…said Riku to himself as he ran, dodging shouting people left and right, nimbly enough. Where was this kid's parents, anyway?

Stop this! I hate dogs!

Shut up and let me catch it!

But…

SHUT UP!

"Rika!" cried Sora's voice. Riku glanced around, and saw Sora running with him, a cynical grin playing on his lips, almost a smirk. Riku was surprised.

When did he…?

"Rika look out!"

Does there even need to be a "too late?" Ah well.

Too late.

There were screams.

Followed by the sounds of splashes. And of pain.

SPLASH.

WUMPH.

"ARGH!"

"Waa…"

Riku found himself in cold, dirty water, Sora joining him too. The silver haired half boy of course, just had to forget too look where he was going.

And into the mall fountain went he.

And Sora soon followed, not being able to stop.

And so they collapsed.

On top of each other.

Surprise, surprise.

Riku drew in a sharp breath as he felt and then saw Sora sprawled out on top of his stomach, groaning in pain as the water of the fountain rained down on both of them, soaking hungrily into their clothes. He saw Kairi and Selphie still going at the chase, in pursuit of the insane puppy thing. Selphie had somehow acquired a long, green, plastic jump rope that had hard plastic handles. It almost resembled her nunchaku that she used for her battles. She was swinging it above her, battle style form and most likely aiming for the dog.

"Selphie, don't hurt it!" Riku heard Kairi wail.

"Gimme a break, Kairi!" Selphie snapped back, focusing on the puppy ahead of them.

Sora quickly scrambled off of Riku, once he realized the position that they were in. It was almost comfortable, like lying on a human pillow…but he wasn't about to get into that.

"Hey you two! What are you doing in there?" A security guard shouted, running up to the fountain, her face forming a frown. Another guard was right behind him. A familiar guard.

"That's them! Well, two of them! They're with the girl who had the dog!" shouted the guard who had once watched the dog. His dark eyes were blazing as they landed on Riku and Sora, who inwardly groaned.

"This day keeps on getting better and better," sighed Sora, holding out his hand to Riku. The would-be-boy ignored the helping hand.

"Speak for yourself," he hissed, wondering the easier way to escape the guards. Sora rolled his big chocolate eyes in annoyance.

"Whatever, lets just run!"

That was always a good idea.

Or it would have been, if the two guards hadn't reached the fountain.

And then tripped.

And then fell inside.

Pulling the two teenagers down with them.

"Not again!" roared Sora, as he felt himself being dragged down, by the female guard in her attempt to stay up. The same was happening to poor Riku, by the guard who had met him before. Again, poor Riku. He was in a bad enough mood already.

"What the….get your paws offa' me, ya freak!" he yelped, half angry and wanting to shout some more, and half bewildered that a phrase like that could ever leave his lips, and in such a high shirking tone to boot. Before he knew it, while having crashed down in the water again, his hand met with the guard's face in a powerful slap.

If one couldn't tell that just about everyone was staring, pointing, shrieking and shouting, shame on them.

That'll teach him…Riku frowned at the thought that entered his head, all the while grabbing Sora by the hand and dragging him out of the fountain, ignoring the yells from the female guard and the curses from the male guard.

I don't believe this…

"Which way did they other go?" gasped Sora, running with Riku who was frantically searching for Kairi, Selphie and the demon dog.

"How should I know?" he returned, ignoring Sora's scowl.

I'm sorry Sora…

The two ran, or it was more of Sora following Riku, fuming at the "girl" for getting so snappy. Just when he thought they were getting along. Even though there was the fact that would be very much dead and cooked when the fiasco was all over, but he wasn't in such a bad mood over it. If anything, Rika reminded him of….

Sora never got to finish his thought, since at that moment both him and Riku turned a corner of the mall.

Shall we go through this again?

WUMPH.

SMACK.

CRUNCH.

WHAM.

Oh the pain.

"OWCH!"

"YET AGAIN!?"

"I HATE MY LIFE!"

"ROAR!"

Blink blink.

"Selphie?"

"Kairi?"

"Riku?

"Sora?"

….

BOOM.

"What is this? ROLE CALL? Okay, we're all here! NOW PLEASE tell me why that demon thing ISN'T!?" Ranted Riku from his spot on the floor tiles, rubbing his forehead after colliding into and then banging heads with Selphie. He always knew that girl was as hard headed as they came. Finding this out physically wasn't one of the events on his "things to do list". Pain.

"Well we were able to get the girl back to her mother…" trailed off Kairi, a sheepish look on her face, mixed with pain.

"Excuse me, does this belong to you?" said a new voice. The four friends looked up from their various positions on the floor. A tall dark boy with a head full of dreads stared at them, holding up a golden wiggling mass.

A mass that had a tail. And a wet nose. And an annoying bark.

He then proceeded to drop the puppy in Kairi's lap, who stared wide eyed at it, wondering if it would start to attack her face. To everyone's utter and complete amazement, it gave a growl at Riku and then snuggled in Kairi's lap, preparing itself for a nap.

"Yep, thought so," Dreads boy commented, before walking away, shaking his head.

"When I'm done with you, you little-" threatened Riku to the drowsy puppy who was ignoring him.

"Oh, but when we're done with you, you'll never step into another mall again!" said another voice. The four cringed as a small group of people, consisting of the female guard, the dog-sitter guard, the mother of the young girl and the cashier from the department store, came up to them. None of them looking happy.

Rather, they looked like they wanted to murder someone. Namely the sorry sight of the four teens in front of them.

"How dare you bring a dog in here!"

"Can't you control your own animal!?"

"You have broken so many rules!"

"You still have to pay for that dress!"

"That dog should be put down! Chasing my baby like that!"

"You best better have a good reason for all of this!"

"That dog is a demon I tell you! Why did I ever help you four?"

"When are you going to pay for the dress?"

"I don't want this ugly dress!" Riku finally retorted, standing up and tugging at the sopping wet dress. The cashier glared, pushing back her bushy brown hair and adjusting her glasses.

"Well, then you better go change…" she began, shoving the bundle of Riku's original clothing to him. "And then you're going to pay for the dress you ruined!" she finished, shouting until her face turned it's pink color. Riku clenched his fits and walked to the nearest restroom, slowly counting to ten.

"As for the rest of you," said the female guard.

"OUT!"

"Now state your names, and telephone numbers. I'm sorry, but your parents will have to be notified about this. Wait, no. I'm not sorry at all." said the guard with a big smirk. This was a different guard then the other two they had met before. He had a pencil and pad ready and waiting.

The four friends stared. Was he serious?

"Kasuga Sakura "

"Miharu Li "

"Takenouchi Chihiro"

"Ishida Ayumu"

The guard wrote furiously. "Numbers now," he grunted.

Kairi gave him the number of a pizza place.

Selphie quickly stated the number of the local library.

Riku gave him the number of a boat renal building.

"123-456-789!" Sora said, every so cheerfully. The guard nodded, having written everything down.

"Now scram!"

"Later!" the four called, and how they scrammed.

That's when the guard looked at the last number, and nearly choked on his own surprise.

"Those insert various colorful words here…brats!" he shouted, stomping is foot, not seeing any one of those "brats" in sight.

Why couldn't people really be as…well, lets say, as dense as this one? No need to call anyone downright stupid, right?

So the four friends walked away from the mall, the puppy securely in Kairi's arms.

And then that was that.

Uh, how about, not?

The door of the pound swung open, they bell that was connected to the door all but fell off as the door made contact with the brick wall. The sounds of barking dogs and mewing cats filled the air, mixed in with the squawks of various birds. The person at the desk full of papers and folders, had two hands clamped over each ear, trying to keep the noise from destroying his poor brain.

The sound of the door and startled him though, and he was surprised to find four teenagers, three girls and one boy standing there. One looked wet, one looked like she was about to explode with anger…she had nice silver hair, one was practically bawling, not wanting to let go of the puppy that she was clutching in her arms, and the other one, the shortest one, was busy prying the whining puppy away from the sobbing girl.

"Um…" he started, glancing at the kids.

The one in the yellow dress and the brown hair that was curved up at the end spoke, with a forced smile. She was holding the puppy out, far away from her as if it had some sort of disease.

"Here, you can have this," she said through clenched teeth. He looked at the puppy. It had a golden coat, and big brown eyes that seemed to be full of sorrow. It was whimpering even more now, and trying to get out of the girl's death grip.

"I don't understand, why don't you-"

"Just take it!" snapped the brown haired boy, the silver haired girl and the girl holding the puppy all together, in perfect unison. It was almost scary. The girl placed the puppy on his desk, much to the young man's annoyance. Then the four turned on their heels and started to walk out of the building, just as stiffly as they walked in. The young man blinked in surprise, and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

"Er uh, wait! You have to-"

Slam.

"Ugh…I'm not good with people," the clerk sighed, as he stared at the puppy who was sniffing the air curiously, and then looked at him with it's big eyes. The young man smiled, and patted the dog on the head. It was pretty cute actually. Very cute. He smiled to himself, ignoring the cries of the other rowdy animals in the cramped pound.

"Good boy, you're a good boy aren't you?" he cooed. The dog barked happily, tail wagging.

Yeah, right.

"Well wasn't this an eventful day?" Selphie sighed to her three other companions. Riku let out a grunt, Sora rolled his eyes, and Kairi ignored the comment all together, lazily swinging the bags that held the fruit of their shopping spree. There wasn't much fruit. However, the were lucky to have even gotten their purchases back in the first place.

"I thought this day would have been bad, but not like this," spat out Sora, glaring at Selphie and Kairi, but his lips formed a small pout. Riku had to smile, a very tiny smile, in spite of his bad mood. Selphie ignored Sora's look and shrugged.

"Well we did get stuff,"

"Whatever. We never did stop for food you know. I'm starving,"

Riku raised an eyebrow at Sora and then shook his head. "Always thinking with your stomach, eh Sora?" Sora only gave him a casual, almost blank look.

"How would you know?" he said smoothly, not even looking at Riku. The comment, though simple, stung. His bad mood immediately got worse.

"You know what though?" Kairi said, as the four was nearing their home island.

"No, what?" asked Selphie curiously.

"That puppy was pretty cu-" Everyone stared.

"Don't even think it, Kairi"

"Finish that sentence, I dare you,"

"Kairi? Shut up,"

Kairi cringed at the comments from Sora, Riku and Selphie. Some friends.

"Or then again….maybe not," she muttered, rolling her eyes.

Still, even though the demon dog had been left behind. The four still had problems ahead of them. Lots of problems.

A/N: WOW! I finished this! And it got to 20 pages! I was only expecting to write like…..10 or so o.o. Wow, anyway, I hope it was worth it to read 20 pages of chapter five! You can yell at me all you want for my long waited updates, I know I'm a bad updater. I should work on that, shouldn't I? WELL WOO TO SUMMER VACATION! I can write more now!….Now lets see if that actually helps. Review if this is review worthy, and I'll be here again in the sixth chapter!

-Jeweled Knife/ Serenity