It's been four days since the incident, and I have Chay watching my every move.
Chay seemed to like Kaji the minute he saw him standing up for me, I don't have
anything against that. Now whenever I catch Kaji looking at me, I blush and
tend to look away. Kerrigan, being very good at observing things, caught onto
this very quickly. It was after school when she nudged me after I saw Kaji.
"You love Kaji!" she whispered excitedly, "I thought you didn't like him, but
you do! Hah!" Kerrigan whispered loudly. I felt colour rising into my cheeks
again.
"I do not!" I protested, but her eyes shined with joy.
"I think you two will be a perfect match!" she squealed.
"Kerrigan, honey!" Kerrigan turned around and waved furiously at the young
woman.
"That's my mom," Kerrigan began, "See you later!"
"Wait! Kerrigan, wanna go to Shadow's Hill with me? I have some kind of herb
I need to collect for Science class."
"Sorry, Shiko, I have plans with Tooga."
Tooga is Kerrigan's little sister. I smiled and waved good-bye as she took
off. I picked up my bag and started walking to the Haunted Woods.
"Wait!" I heard someone call out. I turned around and found Kaji nervously
jogging towards me. "Umm..." he began, "Is it okay if I go with you?" he asked.
"Sure! But I need to tell Chay," I turned around and yelled, "Hey Chay! I'm
going to Shadow's Hill now, and don't worry! Kaji is gonna come with me!"
Chay nodded and shot Kaji a grateful smile.
"Let's go!"
***
The sun was just beginning to set when we reached the hill in the Haunted Woods.
"Hey, Kaji," I whispered. He turned towards me and I whispered, "I never got
a chance to thank you for helping me out with Janx... Well... Thank you," I
turned my gaze away from him.
"It was no problem..." Kaji started, "I just don't like seeing people get pushed
around. And I just kind of..." Kaji trailed off.
"I understand." I crouched down and began to fish out some of the plants that
I needed in Science class. When I stood up, Kaji was looking away from me, his
body tense.
"What's wrong?" I asked. He glanced behind his shoulder, locking his emerald
eyes on my crystal blue ones.
"Someone's watching us, and the vibrations I'm getting are not good."
Suddenly, a cold sensation crept up my spine.
"I think you're right..." A bush rustled and I could hear a voice talking.
It was laughing insanely and I could barely hear the words.
"With this power, I can take over Neopia!"
"I heard that voice somewhere..." I whispered. "It... It was in the Sakhmet
war! That's Dr. Sloth!" I yelled to Kaji. He stiffened as a hand parted the
bush.
"Why, what do we have here?" a horrible voice asked. I shuddered as he took
a step towards me. "Little Usul, do you know what this is?" he asked holding
up a long staff. It was a skinny staff, but it widened out like a bowl at the
top. A silver gem hovered over it, the light making her shadow flicker like
fire. "Would you like to see a small demonstration?" Dr. Sloth didn't wait for
an answer, he tapped the bottom of the staff on the ground 2 times and the silver
gem shot a bright light, straight at me. Instantly, I was flying through the
air, hitting the ground far away from where I started.
"Shiko!" I heard Kaji yell. We were defenceless against Dr. Sloth. If Chay
was here, he's know what to do..." I thought as I opened me eyes. Kaji was kneeled
beside me, glaring at Dr. Sloth with steel cold eyes. I got up, my knees feeling
like Jell-O.
"You're not going to get away with this," Kaji yelled.
"Oh, but you foolish little Shoyru, you can't defeat me."
Kaji glared coldly at him. "Good thing I carry this around with me..." Shiko
whispered. He pulled out a Black Frost Cannon and fired a bolt of black ice
at Sloth. Dr. Sloth was caught off-guard and he stumbled backwards. Kaji took
the chance to gently push me towards the slope of the hill, "Run," he whispered,
"Get far, far away from here." I sniffed and shook my head.
"No Kaji," I whispered, "I care too much for you..."
Kaji looked shocked but stood his ground. "Go!"
"NO!" I pushed Kaji away as another silver bolt came shooting out, the shot
grazing my shoulder. He growled and launched himself at Sloth. Instead Dr. Sloth
merely shook him off.
"Don't you get it, Kaji?" Sloth asked mockingly. "You can't defeat me! Now
let me show you the true power, while getting rid of her..." He pointed the
staff towards me and Kaji began to run full out. I was frozen with fear as I
watched the gem begin charging up with power.
"Get out of there!" Kaji yelled.
But I couldn't move. My feet were glued to the packed dirt and my eyes were
wide open, I felt like a Uni trapped in headlights.
"NO!!" I heard Kaji scream. The silver bolt shot out and I felt a strong pair
of paws push me out of the way. I landed sprawled on the ground, and when I
got up, I saw Kaji on the ground, and he wasn't moving.
"Kaji!!" I screamed. I ran over to him and knelt on the ground, rocking his
head back and forth. "You-You monster! You destroyed Kaji!" I sobbed hysterically
as I clung onto him, tears pouring down my face and splattering onto Kaji's.
He was ice cold. I sobbed as I heard the shrill laughter of Dr. Sloth. "How-How
could you?" I shrieked. I buried my face in his chest and hoped for a miracle.
But I knew it wouldn't happened.
Suddenly, I felt warm, like a glow starting in my stomach and spreading throughout
me. Gently, I laid Kaji on the ground and stood up to face him.
I felt a hand rest on my shoulder, but I couldn't turn to see whom it was.
But I heard a soft misty voice whisper, "The staff, young Usul..."
Instantly, a light pink orb with wisps of white spun out in front of me. Slowly,
one of my paws reached out and gently touched it. My paw was soon flooded in
an ocean of a light pink and white. Then in a snap, I knew what I had to do.
I spread my hands apart and reached under the orb so it hovered lightly above
my paws. I closed my eyes and reached inside of me. I called up memories of
the happiest moments of my life, just called them up and felt the warm glow
inside my heart. Yes, the pain of losing Kaji hurt, but recalling all the warm
memories added to the power of the orb. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Dr.
Sloth charging up the gem. I closed my eyes once more and felt the warmth caress
my face. Instantly, I knew it was time. My eyes snapped open and let go of the
energy, shooting towards Sloth as a beam of light. At the same time, Dr. Sloth
let go his shot and they crashed, had on collision. I felt the energy draining
under his power but I didn't give up, I couldn't give up. I called up more memories,
and let them go. I felt it add to its power. The crash of good and evil was
unbelievable, sparks of silver and pink flew around everywhere, but finally,
I felt the light overpowering the darkness. The beam struck the staff and it
evaporated into dust.
I saw Dr. Sloth's bewildered expression as the dust made a pile at his feet.
I felt my fury grow. I wanted so much to get revenge for Kaji, but I couldn't.
The pink orb faded gently away and Dr. Sloth fled. He turned on his heel and
ran, with speed that I didn't think he have. I knelt beside Kaji and cried.
"I did it, Kaji..." I whispered, "I didn't think I could but I did. I did it
for you... I should have told you sooner Kaji! I should have told you that...
That I love you!" I screamed, "Yes, Kaji I love you!" I cried, burying my face
in his chest once again.
"And he knew." I whirled around in surprise. "He knew you loved him and he
loved you too. That's why he did this for you."
A spiral of bright purple light surrounded a Faerie; her wings spread dramatically
outward, the light giving the dark hill a warm glow. This wasn't any Faerie,
but the Faerie Queen herself. I stammered. I couldn't believe it was her. Not
every pet could see the Faerie Queen, but I did.
"Y-You're the one that told me what to do! You're the one that gave me the
magic!"
"Yes, I was the one who told you what to do, but it was you who did the magic.
I only helped you realise that you needed to use your own special magic."
"Shiko..." I heard a steady voice whisper. Out of the Faeries shadow, a small
creature stepped out, hidden by a thick black cloak and a large hood.
"K-Kaji?" I asked, trying to control the urge to run into his arms.
"It's me, Shiko. The Faerie Queen let me talk to you this one last time, and
I want to say that I love you too," Kaji stopped, I could see him trembling
even through the cloak.
I smiled weakly and watched Kaji step closer towards me.
"But I'll always be by your side, Shiko. I've been watching you all along,"
Kaji reached out to try and touch me, but his paw went through. He frowned as
he looked at his paw, then he slowly lifted the dark hood. His emerald eyes
were bright with tears as he whispered, "Please don't cry... Don't be afraid
either. I'll be by your side forever, as your guardian angel. Shiko, I promise,
I will always protect you."
***
That is my story. I've grown to love everything, from the smallest, most useless
item; and from the rarest, most expensive item. It took a long time for my broken
heart to mend. But from this day on, I knew my heart wasn't going to be the
same. I never fell in love with anyone after Kaji and I missed him so much!
But he's beside me all the time. I just need to call up a picture of him and
I could feel warmth spread out around me. But when I'm depressed, and can't
find a way out, I could just use the Magic Within.
Author's Note: Hi everybody! I'm congratulating everyone who is reading this
last part! Good job! I'll let your eyes rest now but I just need to say this.
NEOMAIL ME AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK!!! Thank you! I'm thinking of coming out
with a sequel, but I need opinions! I better go now, bye! | 
