*Re-edited version 11/4/12*

This is more of a filler chapter with not everyone getting a piece of an appearance. Sorry about that, I had to update quickly because I won't have a clear access to a computer when I go to my cousin's house later. Excuse me of mistakes or confusion, I promise some more build-up very soon. Thanks to my devoted readers for your uplifting comments and support, and for those who are Kai biased, there's a reason behind his feelings. ~_^ And woe is me, tomorrow my bro is back. I told him not to come home, even he doesn't want to. For once, something we agree on, and I'll be kicked off his computer to my broken down laptop. T^T Anyone want to buy me a new laptop?

Disclaimer: Me own pics is big no-no.

(Alaina's POV)

The rest of the day, Taemin stayed with me more, to compromise for the time he avoided me. He helped Key take care of me, and I was finally briefed about the new plan.

It was shocking, even to me. Was Onew really that desperate to rid of the nuisance? In Onew's office, I was discussing with the two leaders who acknowledged the new plan. With me accordingly, Taemin held onto me supportingly as I slumped against his lissom-build. I was still weak and languid, recovering bit by bit.

"So you want me to have skinship with Zelo?" I asked skeptically. "Zelo? The smart-aleck, I'm-so-cool, dyed-pink demon who ditches class and still scores high grades?"

Onew and Suho exchanged uneasy glances and my cousin sighed. "Ne, him."

"But what about my powers? Sometimes I sense something or sometimes I see something. There's a difference. I can't control it," I fretted.

"Jonghyun and Minho suggested molding into your sensory powers further and only focusing on it now," Onew replied gingerly, eying me with dim-lighted eyes. "You don't have to immediately touch Zelo when you see him at first chance, we need it where we're all nearby and without humans roaming the area."

The way Onew delivered the layout for me to focus and train, how come he didn't seem so keen? Something about the way Onew, Suho, and Taemin were...careful and precise with their words caught my curiosity. Taemin was unusually quiet, absently rubbing his thumb over my knuckles, preoccupied with hefty thoughts. Did he forget I could sense his endless chain of worries and foreboding?

"We were thinking, that one day when you're done with your shift at the cafe, that you could walk to a nearby store or something and just lounge around until he appears," explained Suho. "It will confirm our suspicion that he is stalking you and watching your every move. Find a simple and subtle way to touch him, like grab his wrist and drag him to see something."

I contemplated, imagining the scenes in my head. It sounded decent enough. "But what happens if he asks why Taemin isn't with me? Or any of you? He knows you guys are protecting me because both of you exposed yourselves," I reminded them candidly.

"Just tell him I stayed behind to teach a dance at school or something," suggested Taemin. "We'll be putting up a show ourselves, just to divert his attention from us and point out how...free you are."

I pursed my lips, putting the pieces together. "Araso. How soon? Which day?"

"Since you need to practice with your powers, how about this Friday or Saturday?" proposed Suho.

"My shift is more favorable on Friday," I decided. "Will that be enough time? Just about five days from now?"

Onew nodded. "You'll be practicing with me, Jonghyun, or Minho. Key will monitor your ES and give some pointers, araso?"

"No Exo-K?" I inquired, tilting my head questionably.

"We don't want another crazy reaction with your ES," Taemin told me. "And they're not used to contact with your ES."

"So far only Taemin seems to both calm and fuel Alaina's ES," mused Onew, tapping his chin as he peered between us evaluationally. "Is it because you're soulmates or the fact Taemin is more of a skinship addict like Jonghyun now?"

"I say because I'll never let her go," Taemin said, resting his cheek on my head, smiling.

"I can see that," replied Suho, a kind gleam in his dark eyes.

We adjourned the brief meeting and I asked Taemin to help me outside. I wanted to relax on the porch today, tired of being cooped up in the house. Taemin scooped me up in his slim arms - unaffected by my weight - and we suddenly appeared in the backyard, Taemin setting me on the lounge swing.

I laughed lightly as we let our legs swing in the air. "Sometimes I forget you're an alien with superpowers."

Taemin grinned. "Am I your Superman?"

"As long as I can be Superwomen," I countered. "I don't want to be Lois Lane all the time."

Taemin pouted but I stopped him from whining when I told him, "Because Superwomen can fight with Superman and they beat up all the bad guys."

Taemin chuckled at my logic. "I guess that's true."

I peered about, the backyard clean and embraceful of nature. Key did a good job with gardening and landscape. But where were the rowdy boys?

"Where is everyone? It's awfully quiet," I asked aloud, frowning slightly.

"Minho-hyung took Chanyeol, Baekhyun, and D.O. out for a border patrol," Taemin told me. "I think Kai is being lazy and taking a nap or something. Umma and appa are in the garage tuning up their cars and Sehun is helping them. The brainiacs - er - leaders are still researching a bunch of stuff."

"What kind of 'stuff'?" I pressed.

Taemin was hiding the truth with careful and definite words again, like he already planned what to say. "Certain demons they've might've forgotten about. I know they're trying to discover anything about Zelo's background."

"Like...?"

"Who he was as a human."

I deflated. "Oh."

Taemin was sad when he saw my sad face. "What?"

I shook my head. "It's just..." I sighed dispiritedly, sinking dejectedly into the cushions. "It's kinda hard thinking what Zelo's life would be like if he had stayed human. What made him choose...?"

Taemin relinquished a collective sigh. "You know, yeobo... After he had carried you to the nurse, me and Kai followed him and kinda confronted him. He implied that...he never wanted to be a demon. The way his eyes flared so angrily caught me off guard, because it seemed like he really was telling us the truth."

I was trying to picture it, Zelo's stoic face blazed with emotion and fire, his sunken eyes ignited with light and passion. I wished I'd seen it...

"I want to know him better," I found myself confessing in a whisper, gaze downcasted. "He seems so lonely and...bossed around. I know if he acts all high and mighty it's because he's trying to prove himself, trying not to lose his reputation. I've seen it many times in kids and at school..."

Taemin was watching my distant face, seeing if I wasn't kidding. "Jinja? Him? You want to - what - befriend him?"

"At least I want to hear his side of the story," I decided stubbornly. "If only he was a little more open." Memories of when Zelo and I relaxed under a shady tree during lunch flashed before my eyes. Then another time when he visited the cafe, observing everything around him but not affiliating himself with his surroundings. In closer inspection, he was like me, we felt like we didn't fit into the picture, like we were little blots of unwanted paint on an artwork.

But we enjoyed seeing the world so peacefully and quietly. I could see him lounging on a tree branch, watching humans interact, kids playing in parks, or birds flying freely in the sky.

"He's like me," I murmured. "But he's alone with people like him when I was alone with people who didn't know me."

Taemin hugged me close. "You're not alone anymore," he mumbled in my hair. "I'll always be by your side."

I closed my eyes, appreciating and enjoying the tranquil moment with my soulmate.
 

...

(Kai's POV)

People would think he was spying on them - or stalking them in some cases - but he was just darn jealous of how the two acted.

From his bedroom window, Kai was silently watching Taemin and Alaina relaxing on the lounge swing in the backyard, alone, but together, under stress, but content, having disagreed and disputed, but hurting inside, not healed until they apologized to each other.

Just like any other couple in the world, right? In love, having their arguments, then winding back together again?

Wrong. No one thing was ever the same.

Kai envied his hyung. Did Taemin always have something more than him? At first he thought as the bonding as something inevitable when happened, but so uncommon that he waved it off, something he was certain that he'll never experience such devotion and endowment.

But seeing his hyungs - Chanyeol, Baekhyun, Jonghyun, Key, and now Taemin - he wanted to feel it, too. The stirring emotions and how blind yet seeking two people were for each other.

Or maybe it was how Alaina - a strange, queer, beautiful girl - had captured his attention by a simple glimpse, and snatched his heart at first impression. She wasn't like other girls he met or seen. She was self-conscious of herself, was a magnet for danger, had a mysterious background, and was so dim-lighted than everyone else around her, like she was a tiny little candle amongst fireworks. But she had her cute moments, her smile, the warmth of her gaze, how she liked to cook or read, the interaction between her and the SHINee members. Kai loved the way she laughed, like an pure, innocent child. Kai loved her voice, so interchangeable, but was always so soft and smooth.

Why was he bitten by this love bug? Or did Cupid shoot an arrow in his rear end and made him fall for the wrong girl? Alaina was Taemin's soulmate. Soulmates were perfect for each other in any way of form and for no one else. No exceptions, no refunds, no way out.

Taemin and Alaina were still young and just at the start of their relationship, but the bonding guaranteed an everlasting link between them, one that would never fade or be destroyed. The fact barred him from ever getting between their love. He couldn't fight for her, he couldn't do anything to make her his.

Stupid Kai for being so whimsical with his feelings.

Kai was sure for one thing, the moment he touched Alaina, he would never want to let her go.

If only he was the one who met her first, if they had been the one to grab hands, would the ritual have activated for them?

He would never know now.

...

(Taemin's POV)

Kai had been acting a bit...off lately. Whenever Taemin was with Alaina, the boy seemed discouraged and would stay away from them. But Kai seemed to adore Alaina as much as the rest of Exo-K. Sehun labeled Alaina as a princess. Suho treated her like a younger sister, much like Onew and Minho. D.O. was fond of her baking skills and her responsible side. Chanyeol and Baekhyun were talkative and hyperactive, a connection between her and the two boys because they were soulmates to someone. And Kai...he would like to stare at her tenderly, always quiet and always listening to her. Exo-K were aware not to touch her, but they became closer by conversing and mingling their lives together.

Taemin was still worried about Kai's sulky nature, though. Since Kai wasn't allowed to teleport without permission, he was holed up in the house, at school, or during patrols (with an imaginary leash). It wasn't like Kai to be tied down to a place. Loyalty to a person he could handle, but not a place.

Taemin tried to ease up the boy by challenging him to dance offs or joke around, but the attempts were half-hearted. There was this new gleam in Kai's eyes when he looked at Taemin now. Regret? Disappointment? Envy?

Oh, it was about the bonding. Did Kai think it was stupid? Or maybe because Taemin was always spending every waking minute with Alaina? Taemin couldn't help it, he gravitated towards Alaina automatically, his body reacting before his mind. He reminded himself to spend more time hanging out with Kai. He didn't want to lose their friendship.
 

...

(Alaina's POV)

My injuries were healing accordingly under Key's proper care. News of my accident had spread around school like a wildfire because the girls who inflicted the damage - Soojin's friends - gossiped about their 'fantastic piece of work'. But on the bright side, they were punished again under Jae's use of strict, persuading tactics against school officials. In other words, payback.

Zelo would ditch class more than ever now, but one time I found him outside and managed to tell him thanks for carrying me to the nurse when I had passed out. All he did was shrug, give me an assessing look, and walked away, presumably disappearing out of sight.

Well he was the same as ever.

I practiced with my sensory skills more than ever. After returning from work or school, I would finish up any schoolwork and be paired up with either Onew, Minho, or Jonghyun to trigger some reception from my powers and my ES. They wanted me to find a base to feed off of and control it, but it was mentally laborious work and very tricky. Key had to monitor my ES and adjust the barrier that surrounded the house just in case so the ES usage wouldn't attract any demons. Taemin wasn't going to be much of a help with my training, mainly because our ES were bizarre with each other.

I squinted my eyes, looking far away as I tried to see this memory Jonghyun was trying to let me see but keeping it at a distance in his head. I had to find it, but it was hard. I felt multiple emotions, heard this faint sounds, and saw nothing.

I exhaled defeatedly and released his hand. "Not much," I reported to him. "Nothing that stood out or appeared in my mind."

Jonghyun sighed also, slouching back into his chair.

"Maybe it has to be sudden," muttered Key, sitting beside Jonghyun, taking his soulmate's hand.

"I suspect a higher scale of reactions only occur during first meeting," I said logically. "It's like my ES will grow familiar with yours as we hang around each other more. So when you touch me, all I sense are emotions and hear sounds."

"Maybe you should practice with Exo-K," suggested Taemin, pacing back in forth, wearing down the carpet.

"It might mess up with her progression and might lead to other disorders with her ES," Key reminded him. "Right now, Alaina's ES is very small, like a heartbeat."

"It's not leaking?" questioned Jonghyun and Key shook his head. "We should train with her when her ES is more rampant."

"I'm going to ask Onew-hyung something," Taemin proclaimed abruptly and sped off upstairs, leaving me bewildered at his haste.

Key noticed my offended expression. "He's just stressed it's almost Friday, but I hear Chanyeol and the others are pretty pumped up to do something for once."

"I thought Chanyeol, D.O, and Suho helped Onew-oppa and Jonghyun-appa with the demons wandering around the area?" I said, furrowing my brows.

"Because we've been killing them off, there seems to be less and less," Jonghyun stated. "It's very easy to kill off small fry, not much of a fight either."

I recalled Taemin easily killing the demon that almost ended my life. Maybe they claimed it was easy because they were strong.
 

...

(Onew's POV)

"You think we should what?" Onew was baffled.

"I think we should find a method to remove the spell off of Alaina," repeated Taemin, intent on the idea. "It's a protection spell that hides her scent and controls her ES, right? So if we erased it off her, her ES would be more tolerant to work with!"

Onew rubbed his forehead in chagrin, leaning against the edge of his desk. "Taemin...I think we shouldn't."

Taemin frowned, unsatisfied by the rejection. "Why not?"

Onew sighed loudly. "There was a reason the spell was casted on Alaina, and even yet, hidden under radar - she doesn't even notice. I think that we shouldn't interfere with or who ever put the spell on her in the first place. Even if we expelled it, the spell was meant to protect her from certain dangers."

"Are you saying the reason behind the spell was to hide Alaina?" Taemin demanded. "From what? Her world? The place where she belongs?"

"Let's say we did remove the spell," Onew fabricated, "we would have to replace it to keep Alaina from harm - from whatever she needed to be protected from - but even if Key whipped up a suitable spell for the job, it wouldn't be as powerful and high-leveled as the one residing in her now. This protection spell may be fading but it's still hiding her from demons."

Taemin's shoulders slumped. "But would you consider it? Aren't you wondering what would happened if the spell was gone? What if Alaina's powers could finally be tamed?"

"But we don't know what would happened, Taemin," Onew reasoned. "We shouldn't risk it, not here, and not now."

Taemin was quiet for a minute before speaking up in a faint voice, "Don't you wish we could bring Alaina to the Reversed World? It's where we belong, where we can show our powers and stop worrying about our images - where we could find answers. Alaina would...fit in, too. She would love it there." He hung his head is dismay, knowing Alaina couldn't see the beautiful world they originated from with all this conflict.

Onew's voice was softer. "I don't doubt it, but we still need to keep Alaina under the noses of the Council and the other guardians. One day we'll bring her home."

"One day," echoed Taemin in a whisper.
 

...

(Alaina's POV)

I needed to clear my mind of stress and worry, so I was outside again, lying supine on the grass as I stared up at the blue sky. Sunlight warmed my face but not any other part of me since I was covered up with jeans and a long-sleeved shirt and gloves. It was warm out but I felt cold for a strange reason.

The crunch of grass alerted me of someone's approach. I could tell it wasn't someone I was strictly close with. It was someone from Exo-K.

"Mind if I joined you?" asked Kai's low, silky voice.

I glanced up to see him peering down at me particularly. His dark hair was flat but slightly ruffled at the ends today. I smiled politely. "Sure."

Kai gingerly sat down about a foot away from me. He crossed his legs and observed my dazed expression for a second.

"Why are you out here alone?" he asked me finally, slightly timid as usual.

I inhaled the fresh air. "I just needed to relax. Taemin's talking to Onew-oppa. Jonghyun-appa and Key-umma are taking a break from instructing my training. I don't know what the rest of you are doing..."

"Sehunnie is playing video games with Baekyeol. Suho-hyung, Minho-hyung, and D.O.-hyung are out on patrol," he informed me helpfully.

"Ah," I only uttered and went silent. I closed my eyes, liking the feel of nature. Everything was so tranquil but if you could feel the world around you, it was alive.

Kai examined my clothes and frowned. "Aren't you hot in those clothes?"

I hummed. "I kinda feel cold." I reckoned it was because Taemin wasn't with me.

"You're weird."

"I know."

Kai blinked at my simple response, taken back. He fidgeted, playing skittishly with his fingers. I barely noticed.

"You're weird...but since you're pretty, it makes up for that," he blurted out.

I chuckled. "Is that suppose to be a compliment? Or a compromise?"

"I'm telling the truth, though."

"I believe you." I opened my eyes to take a glimpse at him, something registering in my mind. Kai was shy and awkward, but he reminded me of Taemin, not just by appearance, he had this warmth b inside him, something hidden, you just had to find it. Taemin was like light and sunshine, his own star of energy, but Kai was warmth and spiritual, full of passion. Because of this, was this why I was so easy-going and comfortable around him? He was good-looking, too. He wasn't an angel sent from heaven like Taemin, more like a son of a god. Words like 'hot' and 'gorgeous' popped into my mind and I found myself blushing.

Kai furrowed his brows, seeing my pink cheeks. "Are you sure you're not hot?"

Turning away, I fanned my face, but I was trying to calm my beating heart rather than the so-called heat. "Hahaha!" I laughed awkwardly. "Maybe just a little!" Why in the world did I think like that? It wasn't like I was attracted towards him - not like he wasn't attractive. Wait, I didn't mean to imply - it's just that - ugh - you know what I meant.

I shook my head of those conflicting thoughts, my hair flying in my face. I shuddered at the the thought of liking (like like) someone else than Taemin. "Now I'm cold again," I mumbled, pouting.

Kai thought it was so cute. He grinned. "For such a weird person, you're cute, too."

"No, I'm not," I objected. "Cute will never be implied to me. I'm too much of a nerd and weirdo."

"Nerds and weirdos can be cute, too. You definitely pull it off."

"Are-are you flirting with me?" I gaped at the conception.

Kai blinked in surprise when he realized it, too, and held up his hands to his defense. "Mianhae, I didn't mean to. Like I wasn't-"

"Can we just drop the subject?" I asked him desperately, feeling perplexed by the whole inclination that Kai was hitting on me - his best friend's soulmate. I rested one arm over my face, barring the sunlight from my flushed face.

"Mianhae," I heard Kai mutter.

"It's fine. I understand you were being nice. You're a really good person, Kai. I'm happy Taemin has a friend like you."

Kai bit his lip in vexation. He wondered, if this was a normal world, no magic involved, that this would've been a different situation? That Kai really was flirting? That he had a chance to fight over my feelings from Taemin?

He would've asked me if I liked him but didn't. Afterall, he was Taemin's best friend - a good person.

"Are you just going to sit there?" I asked him. "Don't you want to lay down? It's nice."

"Sure." Kai made himself comfortable on his back, staring up at the sky like me. Occasionally he darted glances at me, liking the moment we were alone.

Somehow, the cold sensation in me faded - and not because of the sun - all because of the hearth laying next to me.
 

...