This is another short filler chapter because I need to build up on the suspense and have everything orderly. I would've made it longer but thought I might be boring you all. Anyway, I was having trouble with power matching, you know, whose powers should be who's and character placements. Bare with me for now. Thanks for your comments and subscriptions, keep them going! Spread my story around! Excuse me for mistakes or confusion. Oh, and yes, Zelo and Alaina are just really good friends, nothing more. I just realized yesterday, that this story e month old! YAY!

(Alaina's POV)

The next morning, we all had our schedules and duties to attend to.

Since EXO-M had went home yesterday, Kai had to wake up and teleport them back here in the SHINee house. The clean-up crew prepared themselves with Cleansers and Readers. The clean-up crew consisted all of EXO-M (they didn't mind skipping a day of school), Onew, and Yongguk provided his services. The rest of us prepared for school. The high schoolers already in uniform while the university students had a bit more time to prep up.

That included me.

I was so elated when Onew oppa allowed me to attend school again. Looks like he finally saw how less dangerous it was. But I was worried about B.A.P. What would they do to pass time all alone at home? Suho volunteered to stay home to make sure they were comfortable and didn't cause a mess.

"Kaja! Kaja!" I said eagerly when we were all tidying up from breakfast. I sure missed school, but I didn't miss the uniform. The skirt was still my worst enemy. Many of the guardians commented how cute and professional looking I was in the uniform.

"Looks like someone is impatient to head to school," chuckled Jonghyun, amused.

The high schoolers: me, Taemin, Kai, Key, Minho, Baekhyun, and Sehun slipped on our shoes and readied our schoolbags. I beamed sweetly at my 'appa'.

"You bet I am," I told him fervently and kissed his cheek. "Bye, appa!" We all hustled out of the house. I took a deep breath of the fresh morning air. It was refreshing and reassuring, relaxing my muscles and calming my mind.

"Time for school, huh, princess?" Sehun asked me with a cheeky smile.

I nodded, returning his playful smile with my own. "I feel like a kindergartener," I laughed.

"Sit with me, yeobo," Taemin told me, taking my hand as we shuffled into the cars. I was seated between Taemin and Kai. Baekhyun and Key driving their cars as usual. We were all talking animatedly during the quick car ride. The drivers sped us to school easily without causing a mess on the roads.

"Kai, remember, Alaina is my girlfriend. So you can't be all familiar with her in public," Taemin was telling Kai as a heads up.

Kai pouted. "Darn."

I patted his hand. "It's only in school. Just deal with it for now, araso?" I kissed his cheek to make him feel better. He smiled dimly.

Seeing the crowded lots and courts of SM Academy filled with bustling students brought me back to the old days. I had almost forgotten what the large, fancy building even looked like. I remembered how Taemin would always have one arm secured around my waist, and that has not changed. Kai was in step on my other side, our arms nearly brushing as we walked. I could tell he really wanted to hold my hand. As my guardians and I were heading towards the establishment, people were, of course, gawking at the model-like boys, and even pointing at me. They vividly remembered the Japanese nerd who stole Taemin for her boyfriend and was Onew's dearest cousin.

But today, I seemed...different to them. I was glowing in my happy aura, smiling softly and contently that it stunned some people that they felt their hearts melt. I looked very pretty in the uniform, but it was more like the uniform embraced me. You could clearly see the shape of my hourglass body, and my legs seemed longer and toned as I glided forward. My hair was the usual hairstyle, hugging the shape of my heart-shaped face, my bangs parted from the right. I hadn't had it trimmed in a while, and it nearly curled at my neck.

"See you later, angel," Kai told me in a whisper as we parted to our classes in the hallway. He and Sehun ambled in the opposite direction, girls trying to catch their attention as they passed, saying their names or waving.

"Omo! Is that you, Alaina?" Eunmi nearly cried out when I entered homeroom. She run up and gave me a bear hug with her thin, delicate arms. Her feelings transmitted to me. She was overjoyed and relieved I wasn't 'ill'.

She had no idea.

I gave her a wary smile, my gaze soft. "Uh, ne, I'm glad to be back. I've regained my strength and whatnot."

"Jae unni will be so happy you're back," Eunmi told me, her eyes shining. "She says gym isn't the same without you."

I chuckled warmly and patted her head affectionately. We all seated in our little area in the back, my spot next to Taemin. He smiled brightly at me and I returned it. I just loved his sunny smiles.

...

(Third Person POV)

"You guys sure know how to make a mess," commented Luhan and let out a low whistle, seeing the carnage and the what was left of the devastated church foundation. Debris and dust was scattered everywhere, dirt and cinders encrusting into their shoes.

"Next time, be careful when trying to collapse a building on us," Onew joked with Yongguk. The latter shifted uneasily, staring at the rubble where he once lived.

Using his flying ability to skirt around the perimeter and high places, Kris was look-out and cleaned up the lingering ES in hard to reach places. His groupmates, Tao, Lay, Chen, Xiumin, and Luhan were with Onew and Yongguk on the ground, shuffling through the deserted lot and in the remnants. They tossed the orb-shaped Cleansers where they sensed high levels of ES to it up and then dissolve from existence, not leaving anything excess behind. Onew and Yongguk were sauntering around, holding out Readers. The handheld technology beeped faintly.

"Himchan and Jongup are long gone, but the Reader sensed traces of them," Yongguk announced dully as they gathered together.

"Where would they go if they were all alone, hurt, and had no where to hide to recover?" Onew asked.

Yongguk contemplated deeply. "Although they might be frowned upon, they would probably re-group with Block B since they are the closest. It's not like they took the portal when it opened because it was likely disrupted when the Peacemaker released her ES."

"They would risk alerting Super Junior?" questioned Lay skeptically, cocking a brow.

Yongguk shrugged. "They would have no other choice."

"Do you know where Block B's hideout is specifically?" Chen asked.

Yongguk shook his head. "Ani. Block B was smart enough not to give us the exact location or building. Just the area. We contacted each other by fire-message."

"I heard that Suju has been having problems with demon risings in Incheon," spoke up Xiumin. "Is it because of Block B?"

Onew nodded. "I had warned Leeteuk sunbae about Block B roaming around in their territory. He's been trying to sniff them out." He looked at Yongguk inquiringly. "Do you know what type of skills or powers Block B has?"

"A bit," the former demon said and they all listened intently. "Kyung is very knowledgeable and is a type of informative reader. U-Kwon has super speed and is very hard to catch and is a good hand-to-hand fighter. B-Bomb, well it's easy by his name, he's kinda like Jongup, but he doesn't need a catalyst to cause explosions. Instead, he uses his ES as bombs, and is known to be more powerful than Jongup. Taeil can control and influence insects. But the last two, one of which who is the leader, I've never been informed of. But they are also forminable I guess."

"That doesn't sound good," remarked Chen.

"But their powers are measly versus to ours," said Xiumin confidently, not daunted.

"Does Super Junior sunbaes know more about them?" Tao asked Onew.

Onew pondered. "I think so. Maybe I should ring Leeteuk sunbae again. Anyway, let's head to the next site. It'll take a bit of time on car."

"Araso," everyone agreed.

...

(Alaina's POV)

"Yah, Jae!" I called out merrily as me and Eunmi stepped onto the basketball court.

"Alaina! Welcome back!" Jae exulted, coming over to give me a warm hug. Kyungmi patted my back in greeting.

"You seem better," commented Jae, eying me up and down. She smiled. "Glad you fully recovered."

"I hated being bedridden," I lied. Well, it was sort of a lie. "All my teachers were surprised I was back, but they were even more surprised that I finished all my schoolwork with high marks despite not learning in class."

The three girls chuckled.

"You know, since you were gone, it looked like Soojin's friends have picked a new leader," stated Kyungmi. "It's the tall girl, Hyemi."

I wrinkled my nose in displeasure. "What for?"

"Apparently, they want to catch Kai-ssi's and Sehun-ssi's attention," Eunmi told me with a disapproving frown. "And they seemed to have forgotten about you, but hate us for being friends with Kai-ssi and Sehun-ssi."

Sighing, I shook my head. "They should cut the drama and give up." Kai hadn't even considered or flirted with a girl since our bond, and Sehun didn't seem interested in a relationship. Baekhyun was safe from being harassed by smitten girls because he was 'taken', but it didn't stop his fangirls from pestering him.

Jae inclined her chin behind us blandly. "Look, those deranged girls are at it again."

I turned around to see girls sitting on the lower levels of the bleachers, cheering manically and waving while the boys, particularily for Taemin, Minho, Key, Sehun, Baekhyun, and Kai as they played a three-on-three game of basketball. Taemin, Kai, and Key were on one team, and Sehun, Baekhyun, and Minho on another. The game looked pretty even and tied up in skills and performance. When Minho dodged past Taemin and Kai and jumped for a slam dunk, the girls raved wildly.

"Minho oppa! Minho oppa! Wahhh!" the fangirls cried. Minho didn't even spare a glance at them, attention intent on the game.

"Kai oppa, look over here!" someone exclaimed and I felt annoyed, but Kai pretended no one signaling him out and I relaxed.

"Those pathetic fangirls are so lucky we have a free day today," muttered Jae and we nodded in agreement.

Kyungmi twirled the basketball in her finger expertly. "Come on, I'm bored. Let's play."

"Two-on-two?" inquired Eunmi. "I'll be with Jae unni."

"Alaina's with me, then," agreed Kyungmi and we positioned ourselves. I was excited to exercise, I haven't played in so long. I made sure store away my ES the best I could so I could concentrate on the game. Me and Jae kept counteracting each other, but I easily evaded her and was more swifter, my shots were always pinpointed. Kyungmi and Eunmi were leveling off with each other, Kyungmi had the upper advantage with her height and fast reflexes versus Eunmi quick footwork and speed. Twenty minutes passed and the score was fifteen to eighteen, me and Kyungmi winning so far.

"Can we join you?" asked someone, making us pause in our game.

Tucking the ball under her arm, Jae grinned while was I smiling. "Sure, whose with who?"

"Me, Kai, and Key will be with Alaina and Kyungmi, and the others will be with you," said Taemin. They nodded their affirmation.

"Let's play, then," Jae said, ambitious now. She and Minho pounded fists. Sehun beamed cutely at Eunmi who looked flustered, red-cheeked.

"Don't get distracted by me," Kai teased me in a sly whisper as we settled in our positions.

I rolled my eyes, but my giddy smile was still present. "Don't cocky, hun." Kai only grinned impishly.

While we played competitively, I could hear the fangirls whining and complaining from the bleachers. Their words were pitchy and derogatory, meaning to be directly piercing at us 'fortunate girls'.

"Why did oppas have to team up with those losers? Ugh."

"Taeminnie oppa must've wanted to be with his nerdy girlfriend."

"Those student council wenches aren't even pretty."

Keep your cool, Alaina, I thought to myself, restraining my building distaste and anger. I hated it when people were too judgemental and stuck-up to others when they didn't know a thing. Were those fangirls friends with the boys? No. Were those fangirls even polite or considerate of the boys? Never. Did the boys even like them? Heck no. Why would they when they were acting like snotty es? Their loathing sank into my skin, and I was even more acutely aware of them.

I'm definitely back in school, I thought dryly, watching Baekhyun pass the ball to Eunmi and she dashed past Kyungmi and Key. I ran up to block her and successfully snatched the ball away and tossed it to Taemin who ran off to our basket. Minho and Sehun were on his tail but Taemin dared to shoot in the basket and made it in.

"Good shot," I said to him cordially, high-fiving him. He twined our fingers together and leaned forward to kiss my forehead.

"Thanks to you," he said to me genuinely and I flushed modestly.

"No PDA on court," interrupted Kai and Key, giving Taemin a pointed look. He stuck his tongue at them and we played basketball until it was time to clean up and dress. Outside the dressing room, the boys had politely waited for us - which gathered an ogling crowd of girls - to gentlementally us to lunch. It was weird for me to being eating in the canteen, louds conversations resonating in the air, and people taking up all the available space at tables. But my soulmates, family, and friends were with me, so I felt comforted.

I hoped the peace could last longer than before.

...