HUMANAVILLE
6:14AM; WEDNESDAY
ADAGIO'S APARTMENT

As Adagio opened the curtains to lighten up the living room, the sun was still working its way up above the dark blue sky. She stood by the window and browsed outside to see the aftermath of a bad snow storm. The cars were all covered in snow and the snowy streets were being plowed by trucks. Adagio held a mug of coffee, and wore her usual graphic tee in the morning. She never wore pants in the morning because she didn't feel the need to since her shirt extended down just above her knees. As she continually feasted her eyes through the beautiful white snow outside the window, she heard a throat clearing behind her. She turned around.

"Morning Adagio..." Aria's raspy voice in the morning always made Adagio laugh on the inside.

Adagio smiled, and turned back around to continue gazing through the window, "Morning... You're up early." She took a sip of her coffee.

Aria rubbed her eyes in wakefulness, and sat by the dining table with legs crossed, "I had to go to bed early last night. Work was frickin' stressful."

It wasn't normal for Adagio to be up this early either and Aria already sensed what's going through her head, but Adagio kept herself quiet. Although she loves the peace and the quietness on Wednesday morning, she displays such extraordinary anxiety at the reality of their situation; The fact that it was herself to blame for the disappearance of their gems. Aria and Sonata fully understands, but Adagio never forgave herself for it. She tried every possible way to retrieve their gems back, but magic in this world is so much different than she had expected, and Aria badgering her about what their next course of action, just puts a lot of pressure on her. On the tip of that iceberg, she now has my gem to deal with. Adagio wishes she can just run away from the problem but it's her responsibility as the oldest sister to take care of us, whatever the circumstances are.

"I brewed some fresh coffee if you still need a little energy charge." She took another sip of her coffee, ".. You work today?"

Aria with an instant retort, "No.."

Aria and Sonata started working around a couple of weeks to a month, shortly after their downfall. Aria wasn't fond of working to begin with. Living a mortal life like any human being in this planet, dealing with customers at a fast food joint selling burgers, just irritates her. Sonata, on the other hand, worked at a retail store, but has difficulties coping with tasks when they're given. One time the manager called Adagio to tell her that she's been knocking down multiple display mannequins, creating a domino effect almost everyday. Which can be a health hazard to customers. But she still loves doing what she does.

Aria sighed and broke the silence, "So... How do you feel?"

"I've been better."

Aria is known to be the most stubborn sister compared to all of us, not to mention, the most despicable. But she does have a soft spot, only towards her sisters, and Adagio knows this. So Aria being stressed at work, and going to bed earlier than usual was just a lame excuse why she's up so early. She was actually up all night worrying about Adagio. The fact that she's not elaborating the discussion, made it more difficult for Aria.

"Well..." Aria tapped her fingers on the table, "Hey Adagio, you're not gon' believe what happened at work yesterday. A co-worker of mine brought an Easy-Bake oven, and then he uses it to bake beef patties rather than tossing them onto a grill. Ain't that messed up? And then he had the audacity to... "

Adagio merged in with words before Aria finishing her sentence, "You don't have to fill the silence, Aria."

Aria groaned and crossed her arms, "Fine..." She got up from her seat with an attitude, and walked towards the kitchen to help herself with a cup of coffee. She sighed and mumbled, "What's gotten your hair in knots this morning..."

Adagio paused herself from gazing through the window, and glared at Aria, "Don't think I didn't hear that?"

"Uh, I did say it out loud." Aria with a come-back.

Adagio rolled her eyes, and continued gazing through the window.

Aria detected the strong aroma from the coffee carafe as she poured the coffee into her mug. Aria didn't like her coffee too strong because it gives her the non-stop jitters that can last almost the whole day. On the contrary, Adagio couldn't stand weak caffeine.

Aria shook her head, and let out a faint smile, "Hmph... So you're at this again with this whole coffee thing... You gotta learn how to crank it down."

"If you don't like it, then make your own." Adagio snapped.

Aria mumbled, "Geez.. After a couple of days of recovery, she's now back to her old ways.. How reassuring."

"Scuse me?"

Aria chuckled, "Like I said. Back to your old ways... and I'm not being sarcastic either.. Not at all, if that's what you're thinking."

"... I guess I'll take that as a compliment.." Adagio took a sip of her coffee, "What do you want, Aria.. You've been filling the silence quite awkwardly. It's making me nauseous."

Aria poured generous amount of cream into her coffee to alter the strong bold taste. Aria's thoughts lingered whether to tell Adagio how she really feels, or rather just phase it out by changing the subject about how worse Sonata can be.

Adagio's the first to learn to barely accept reality. She can't stand to live normal. So when Aria tells her a story about her workplace, the nature of human ignorance and stupidity, only reminded her how their new life will pan out till the day they die. It drives her insane.

After Aria stirred her coffee, she walked back to her seat in the dining table, "Well... Don't get mad at me..." Aria sipped her coffee, "Sonata and I think you've gotten soft with Clair."

Adagio sighed without a reply, overseeing a person outside the window slipping and falling on black-ice. Aria continued, "I'm not saying it's a bad thing..." Adagio turned around to face Aria with an attentive look, urging her to continue, "I mean... Don't get me wrong, Adagio... I can feel myself changing too. Maybe it's a side effect due to not having our gems anymore.."

Adagio couldn't agree more. Being powerless, there's really nothing else they can do. Adagio may still have her magic, or whatever's left of it, but it's not enough to give them power that they need to get the entire world to do their bidding.

Adagio sat by the dining table across from Aria with an inscrutable look, "Have you been hungry lately?"

Aria didn't quite understand what she meant at first. She clarified, "You mean hunger for magic?"

"Yeah..."

Aria with a delayed response, "... No." She pursed her lips and raised both her eyebrows.

Adagio faintly chuckled and rubbed her aching head, "Ain't that a bucket o' sunshine." She then began drinking large gulps of her coffee.

"What about Sonata?"

Adagio placed her empty mug down, "What about her..."

"Well, it's just... even when we had our gems, she didn't seem to hunger for it at all like we did. It's like she never cared."

"Sonata will always be Sonata regardless of the circumstances, even when hell breaks loose, she'll be somewhere along the side playing around with the hell hounds."

Aria chuckled, "Why the hell hounds?"

"Because... She's Sonata."

Aria shrugged, and couldn't agree more with Adagio. There were times that they blamed Sonata for their loss at the battle of the bands because of her careless and bubbly personality. But when it comes down to it, it's really no ones fault. Magic of Friendship is just too strong.

"Adagio... I just need to know that you're okay with all of this.."

Adagio was unsure how to answer. If she say's no, it would just make Aria more worried than she already is. If she says yes, that would mean she's lying. Adagio just couldn't win, thus making her sick to her gut.

A door creak sound came up from behind them, Adagio and Aria turned their heads to see Sonata standing by her bedroom door, rubbing her eyes in wakefulness. She smiled and greeted in a low voice, "Good morning, girls." She walked towards the dining table, and sat down to join them. She yawned, "What's all of this commotion going on so early in the morning?"

Adagio and Aria exchanged glances, thinking of a clever way to hide the real subject of discussion. Aria initiated, "Nothing, we were just talking about you." Then awkwardly sipped her coffee.

"About me?"

"Yeah, about you causing havoc at where you work. Geez Sonata, we can't be there for you twenty-four seven. We have jobs too ya' know."

Sonata begged to differ, "No! It's not my fault, blame the mannequin!"

Aria with a puzzlement expression, "Huh?"

"Okay girls." Adagio merged in with a halt in between the two siren sisters, "Since we're all up, I'll be fixing us some breakfast. After that, I've got chores for you all to do."

Both protested:
"Awwww."
"I knew I should've said I had work today.."

She continued, "After we're all done, we're heading over to Clair's place for dinner later tonight." Adagio got up from her seat, and walked towards the kitchen.

Sonata was ecstatic to hear about tonight's dinner plan. Aria, on the other hand, remained passive. She was still kind of shook up about what happened that night at the Christmas showcase. So when Adagio made an impromptu plan for tonight's dinner, Aria cringed at the idea. Nevertheless, she knew she couldn't say no to Adagio, so she just had to suck it up and bear with it.

HUMANAVILLE
2:02PM; SAME DAY
SUGARCUBE CORNER

Sandal Wood sat by himself in the booth, waiting patiently for my arrival. I called earlier telling him that we needed to talk, and Sugarcube Corner is a perfect place to be, so I told him to meet up at one-thirty pm. I was half an hour late, and there was no excuse for my tardiness. The waitress had already approached him three times, offering him something small to hold our seats. But Sandal Wood declined. He had informed the waitress not to worry, and that I was arriving very soon.

*Entrance Bells Chimed*

I entered the bakery and panned around the dining area, seeing Sandal Wood sitting down inside a booth, waving his hand to me from a mid-distance. I took a deep breath, and walked towards him.

Sandal Wood stood up and took my hand to pull me in to give a quick peck on my lips. But I turned away before his lips touched mine. I said in a low voice, "No... Sandal Wood.. We need to talk... Lets sit down."

Sandal Wood raised a single eyebrow, "Ok?..."

We both sat down, opposite from each other. Sandal Wood was puzzled about my sudden strange behavior, and he's already sensing half of what might happen later throughout our discussion. But he's not one to jump to conclusion.

Sandal Wood questioned, "Is everything ok, Clair?"

If I only knew that breaking up with Sandal Wood was this difficult, I should've at least prepared what I needed to say before I came. Sandal Wood asked a simple question, and I couldn't answer it. The awkward silence filled between us, but Sandal Wood was able to notice my glum expression and that he was concerned. He tapped his fingers on the table to give me a little nudge, and asked again, "Clair... Are you okay?"

With my delayed response in a low voice, "I don't know.. Sandal Wood..."

"Clair... I'm no mind reader."

"Sandal Wood, with everything happening right now, with my gem and all..." I couldn't bear to look at Sandal Wood anymore, so I looked down with a sad expression on my face, "To keep you safe, I don't think we should be together anymore..."

Sandal Wood's eyes widened in shock. It remained open for the moment until I merged in again with words, "...I'm sorry Sandal Wood.."

Sandal Wood's emotion was triggered, and his rough, masculine behavior was slowly taking over the best of him. He stood up and narrowed his eyebrows at me, "To keep me safe?"

I slowly raised my head up, "Yeah..."

"Clair, I carried you back home when you we're lying unconsciously on the ground during that snow stormy night..." He raised a single eyebrow, and proved his point once again, "Keep me safe?..."

I sighed, "You'll never understand..."

"Understand what?... Look... I've seen magic like that before, and I'm fully aware what it can do to people."

I've never seen Sandal Wood become infuriated before, which hurts me. I can see it in his eyes that he's not letting the little things, such as my gem, be a hindrance. But what he doesn't understand is the consideration of the future consequences: Weighing immediate and distant outcomes.

"Clair, I like to think that we share something special..." Sandal Wood's emotion began to soften, and slowly sat down, "I don't think you understand how important it is for me to hear the sound of your voice everyday." He slowly took my hand, and cupped it with his own, "They say love hurts... But I'm ready to take that risk, if I'm going to be with you."

Sandal Wood's words took me by surprise, and brought me to tears. For thousands of years worth living, I've never experienced anything like this before. I know my fate hangs in the balance, but the choices are just not getting any easier. It's like the worse battle that I'll have to fight, between what I feel, and what I know.

Sandal Wood held my chin up, wiped the tears off my face, and looked deeply into my eyes, "... I Love You..."

After Sandal Wood said those wonderful words, my heart began to beat faster. I can literally feel the adrenaline rushing from my chest, sending goosebumps all over my skin. It was quite nice. My facial expression began to transform into a faint smile. I could care less what happens, but the fact that Sandal Wood loves me, I feel like I have what I only need in this moment in time.

HUMANAVILLE
3:04PM; SAME DAY
MY APARTMENT

It only took ten minutes max till Sandal Wood and I finally arrived at my apartment. As I blasted the front door open, he pushed me against the wall and kissed my neck. He stroked my cheek then his lips shifted onto mine. He raised his hands up to my hair and tangled his fingers in it, while his other hand pulled up to my face cheek, and cupped it. I raised up his shirt and slowly felt his hard body. I moved from his lips to his neck, while he thrust me onto his thighs. He placed his hands on my lower back, grazing one hand down the back of my jeans. I was in a total daze and all I cared about was how good it felt kissing Sandal Wood.

"I - Love - You." I panted through the hard kissing and touching. That did it for me. "Sandal Wood, lets continue this in my bedroom." Sandal Wood instantly carried me while his lips were in tact with mine. We walked towards my bedroom and laid on the bed. He was on top, and I was under him. He peeled off his T-shirt, and so did I. As I slowly ran my hand over his crotch, he started moving his lips onto my jawline, to my neck, down to my collar, and then my breasts. I giggled as he gently kissed my stomach, "Sandal Wood, that tickles." He unbuttoned my jeans and pulled them off. I sat up and unbuckled his belt with one hand, while using the other to run my fingers over his stomach. I moaned and looked at him with a squint smile. As his jeans were completely off, my eyes widened at the huge bulge on his boxer shorts. He looked at me with a naughty smile, then laid his body over me. He continued to kiss me once again while he reached down to his own front boxer hole to reveal his hard manhood. I momentarily paused from kissing him, and whispered in his ears, "Sandal Wood... Please be gentle."

He yanked off my bra and tossed it aside, then slid his hand into my panties, his fingers dipping between my legs. He felt my curls and fleshy folds wet with anticipation, and smiled to feel my readiness for him. I moved my pelvis upward, coaxing him wordlessly to stroke my needs as he recaptured my mouth with his.

I arched against him, tugging at his boxers, unable to reach far enough down to pull them any lower than halfway, then slid my fingers between the waistband and his buttocks, squeezing, pulling him towards me, pushing him to enter me.

Unable to control his need to have me, he slipped my silky panties off and tossed them, then yanked his boxers off and dropped them to the floor.

His painfully hard erection rubbed against my thigh, and he worked on my sensitive nub to bring me to climax. My breath hitched, my heart pounded wildly. I sucked in air, arching my body, exposing my neck, my throat, my blood calling to him, willing him to take me.

"Relax, Clair."

He pressed his manhood against my opening, entered slowly, stretching me. I moaned, I urged him deeper, wrapping my legs around him, encouraging him. Hoping beyond hope he could control the blood lust when he couldn't keep his sexual drive in check, he aimed deeper into the chasm, and gradually pounded me faster, I moaned, "Ah.. Sandal Wood, slow down.. You're kinda hurting me.." My hands clinging to his hair, my legs wrapped around him, my heels digging into his butt. He thrust and groaned, so close, so damned close. He felt the end coming, prayed it was only the beginning, and finally came to an end when he released his seed inside me.

We felt our hot steaming bodies rubbing against each other, our rapid breathing began to diminish, he then shift himself by my side of the bed. We cuddled throughout the rest of the remaining moment that I will cherish forever.

*Knock Knock*

The loud knocks were heard from my apartment door across the room, with the familiar voices behind it:

"Clair, we're here."
"Open up! I'm hungry! Oh and umm, we still have to finish that GTA game!"

Just as Sandal Wood and I were treasuring our moments together, I totally forgot that my sisters were coming for dinner tonight, "Shit!" I perked up, covered my body with a blanket, and advised Sandal Wood to quickly get dressed.

"Clair, calm down. I think your sisters already accepted me." As zipping his pants and buttoning it.

As I quickly slipped my panties and bra on, "If Adagio catches me naked with you, she'll kill me... And you!.."

"Why would she care?"

"Because, she's my oldest sister!..."

*LOUD MULTIPLE KNOCKS*

I couldn't think of a clever way to quickly think of a plan in such short notice. But I guess it will have to do, "Sandal Wood, hide under the bed." Almost fully clothed at this point.

Sandal Wood looked at me blankly, "Clair, you can't be serious."

I replied with sarcasm, "Oh, like you got a plan?"

*LOUD MULTIPLE KNOCKS*
Aria's voice was heard outside the apartment door, "Clair, open up!"

I shouted across the room, "In a minute! I'm just getting dressed!" I then lowered my eyebrows at Sandal Wood in a low voice, "You have got to hide now, we'll talk about this later, please..."

Sandal Wood sighed, "Fine..."