A/N: Okay, finally getting MY story (cause SOMEONE *coughCOUSINcough* seemed to have hacked it) up, I was really surprised to see New Story on my email, but I digress. Anyway, IOU is mainly set into the College years, yes the quota courses, term papers from hell and the separation of friends due to different career options. there will be 4 Stories that are not related the each other, there might be some hints appearing--but it won't be explained as much. the 4 stories are told by first person, and mostly the girl's POV (I can't write guy's POV to save my life -.-'). Their ages range from 18 to 20, it depends on their year level and whatnot.
:PROOFREAD by Dark Flamingo:
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN KINGDOM HEARTS OR THE CHARACTERS, SQUARE-ENIX DOES.
IOU ONE GALAXY
I'll Build a Rocket to the Stars
Today's November 8th and I can't believe I'm sulking. It just isn't done. If you're wondering what's so different with November 8, the reason why sulking is a big 'no-no'? It's the exact date that I finally got to meet my best friend, and it doubles as the date I passed for honours in the Radiant Garden University. It's my self-proclaimed Lucky Date, and you might've noticed why. But now instead of celebrating the day I'm sulking in the corner of my dorm room, waiting for some miracle to crack me out of this mood.
You see November 8th is also the date I agreed to go to my best friend's going away party, and the problem lies there. He's going away for two years; to study in someplace called Twilight Town. I, as his best friend agreed to that, I was very happy about it mind you. But right now ... I kind of wish he wasn't picked to go anywhere.
"Kairi, what's wrong?" I didn't even hear the floor creak, or the door open. Only Naminé could pull such a graceful move off. The voice confirms that it's her.
"... Nothing." I didn't mean for my voice to sound so obvious, but even if I did hide it perfectly nobody but the blonde blue-eyed girl will be able to see through it.
"If you're expecting me to believe that, you can just wave goodbye to the thought," She said literally pulling me over to the middle of the room, and away from my sulking corner. She eyed me carefully, raising her brow as she sighed. "If you're really against Sora leaving, I suggest you tell him. Instead of killing yourself, and filling our room with darkness." And boy was she blunt.
"You know well that I can't do that," I said pulling my knees to my chest, "It won't be very ... supportive of me." I rested my arms over my knees and leaned my head on them. She reacted with a loud irritated sigh, pulled my arms away and grabbed my shoulders.
"Kairi ... please, don't be so stubborn! Just tell him that," I stared at her light blue eyes with a question of which; it can be that I don't want him to leave, or that. She raised her brow again, "Yes, Kairi that!" She pulled me up to a standing position.
"No," I groaned, "Anything but that!" She knows that I can't even stop him from leaving, or taking his first girlfriend (and accepting that it's not me), or anything else. Why would she put this one me?
"You can do it! It's going to be easy, you're best friends!" she said, smiling at me. I let out a small sigh and stared at her, "Don't you know that that's the problem?" she nodded and grinned.
"Yeah I know," Then why ask me to do the impossible. "And it's not that bad—nor is it impossible." She walked away, to her side of the room grabbing her bag and sketchpad.
"Don't you remember?" she shoved her things into the white shoulder bag of hers, and walked back so she was in front of me. "I was in the exact same situation," she made her way through half the room and stopped just before the door.
"Only ... worse." And with a click of the lock on the door, she was gone.
I have got to admit, she was right. I've got it easy compared to what happened to her. But I still can't bring myself to say anything, and I've got less than 7 hours to find a way to accept the fact that he's leaving, or stop him. I can already feel that this will be one long, long day.
-8-
I made my way to 7th heaven; a student-run café located at the middle of the University. Of course, I wouldn't go to this place if I just wanted cake and a frappe. Oh no, there's a much bigger reason behind that.
As soon as I stepped inside the café, and heard the bell ring accompanied by a 'welcome to 7th Heaven!' greeting. I knew that the person I needed was right here, a smile and a plan was already formulating in my head.
"Hey there!" she said when I sat up in front of the counter, "How you been?" Yuffie crossed her arms and grinned. "Not so good, huh?" I shook my head and hit my head on the white counter.
"I don't know what to do, Yuffie!" I groaned, she chuckled and dinged the bell for orders thrice.
"Give us a minute!" she said, before running into the back and a loud ruckus occurred, and then after a minute two brunettes were being dragged outside by the junior.
I laughed and greeted the two seniors, "Hey Aerith, Tifa ..." they waved their hellos and sat beside me, while Yuffie remained behind the counter.
"So you haven't done anything to stop the best friend?" Tifa's wine eyes were speaking on their own again, and they said: Still calling him 'best' friend? You better confess soon...
Thank you Tifa. "I wouldn't to stop him because I'm going to lose a friend.. it's so self-centred ... and I'm not being a good friend if I don—" a piece of mango tort found its way into my mouth, culprit: Yuffie.
"WE GET IT! We've been going over this since freshy years." She said eating more of the tort that Aerith had probably just made. Her green eyes rested on the nearly gone tort; "You're paying for that, right Yuffie?" Yuffie nodded as if being forced.
"You can't force things like this," she said putting a hand over my shoulder. "You have to be sure, and know what you're taking away from him—is it something you can replace, or something greater than what you can ever give?" I felt my body go limp from all the thinking. I don't know, I don't know what to say, what to think, how should I say, will I even say it? I just want everything to be ...
"I just don't want him to leave, or to forget me." I just want everything to be like they used to.
I heard a chorus of 'aww's and saw a blushing junior in front of me with a full mouth of tort. Tifa hugged me from the side, and so did Aerith. "You are in there ... deeeeeeeeep, girl." Tifa said after letting me get a breath of air.
"I—I don't think so ..." they all gave me accusing stares, "Okay maybe I do have an idea ..." they just gave me that 'right-start-telling-the-truth' look. Oh, well there goes my long charade.
"Okay, so I've been aware." I said finally, they all broke into smiles.
"Alright... Tell Naminé, step numero uno is done!" the short raven-haired junior said, jumping in excitement. The other two exchanged happy congratulatory smiles with each other, and me.
"Hey ... what's going on here?" clueless as I was, I wouldn't want to remain clueless the whole day.
"Hmmm," Tifa started a little hesitant with her tone.
"Nami asked us to help you out!" Yuffie said giggling with her response.
"She was right, you do need a little push." Aerith grinned, finishing a ribbon on a box of pastries. "We're sorry, but that's all we could do for you—we know you'll find a way to tell Sora." She handed me the box of dark chocolate bonbons.
"Thanks guys, but I think I'm a long way from saying such things." I said before turning to the door and leaving. "Sora'll understand!" they all yelled in unison. I just sighed and took another walk around the campus.
-8-
That took an hour away from my day. I slowly made my way to the university's Glass Garden, it's always been a place I can relax—without anyone interrupting. A nice quiet time will do me, and my over thinking head good. I turned my head up, looking at the cloud filled sky. Something tells me that I'm not going to be alone later at the Glass Garden.
I arrived at my destination only to find two of my friends, possibly dating and seated at my favourite crystal bench. I breathe in and smiled; maybe if I pretend I didn't see them, they wouldn't notice me—I could just cross the path and exit the other side, yeah. I could do that.
"Kairi!!" Too late.
"Olette, Hayner—what are you guys doing here, I thought you guys were more of the 'movies-dinner' couple?" Maybe I could weasel away from them. The green-eyed brunette giggled and turned to the blushing caramel eyes of her boyfriend.
"Hayner made me chose the place for today," the blonde nodded and averted his gaze. "I'm sorry I'm I disturbing you guys, I should get going!" I said my feet making their way across the room, taking their chances from the two stunned figures a meter away.
"Wait, Kairi!" I stopped and turned my head towards the brunette, "Yes?"
"Have you told him yet?" I shook my head lightly. "I'm not going to be selfish, Olette I know better." She sighed and relaxed her gaze, "Seems like you don't."
I turned on my heel to face where they were sitting, "Then tell me, what do I not know?" I said calmly making my way to the crystal bench that lay still in the middle of the garden. The crystal path making little sounds with my flip-flops, the clouds were clearing too—the glass was already being illuminated.
"What are you scared of, Kairi?" she asked me as I sat myself beside her, she was looking at the glass roof that resembles a crystal from the outside.
I honestly, don't know exactly what I'm scared of. "I don't know," I said looking over the garden floras and man-made falls; the blossoming blues and yellows were really lighting up the clear walls of glass, something that usually got me happy in a minute, now they seem like nothing.
"Hmm ... that'll be hard," she said sceptically lowering her head to a thinking position, "Well ... you'll have to figure it out soon, or else I can't help you." she grinned.
I laughed, "I didn't ask for your help, you offered it." I said smartly, "Well I want to help that's why you have to know, cause I can't help without it." She answered smirking at me with those knowing eyes.
"So how are you and Hayner," I heard a choking sound; might as well change the topic and think it over, than talk about something I'm not sure of and think.
She laughed and patted him on the back, "We're okay, I guess—we haven't been having any problems." His face flushed as the words escaped his girlfriend's mouth.
"Olette, you do know I'm here right?" he reminded, the brunette turned to him with a sweet smile.
"Of course." He moaned, "Then why are you talking about this in front of me?"
"You have something against it?" Her tone was a little suspicious, and at the same time concluding.
"N-no! I mean... it's very... uncomfortable," he said fidgeting in his seat. "I'll go—"
"Stay!"
"Y-Yes Ma'am!" He muttered and sat still on the crystal bench. I was holding back a laugh and hid it behind a toothy grin. Hayner was like, a mannequin—he didn't move, the only thing that proved him to be alive is that while Olette talked about the many sweet things he did his face would flush.
"He's a very sweet guy," His body seem to relax and his normal self was back. "I'm glad he took the chance." It felt like bricks falling on my head, a car charging full speed as I crossed the freeway. Is she trying to say that Love takes chances? Well, I'm not in love so tough luck to ya!
"It's kind of weird don't you think?" She continues, I saw Hayner's arm snake its way to entangle with hers, "You've known this person so much, that you call yourselves best friends—and then suddenly, when you cross that line—its like you're seeing a different person." By the end of her little talk, their hands were already linked.
"Well didn't Hayner pretty much do the courting?" His faced flushed furiously, his grip tight on her hand. "Hayner ... don't break my hand," Olette said, affection ruling over annoyance.
"Hmm... you wouldn't call it courting ... he's a one of a kind person, and... he never asked me out, he just said 'Olette, my mom needs help with dinner tonight, mind if you can come. I already told her you would.'" She even copied the voice and unusual stuttering of Hayner's demanding voice that night. We very much would've laughed ourselves to sleep if Hayner wasn't there to defend his actions.
"Hey! That was to make sure you'd come!" he let go of her hand, and crossed it with the other. She turned aside, "I would've gone no matter what absurd reason you said." That got him quiet, not to mention—is Hayner permanently red?
"If you don't mind my asking. Why didn't you just ask her out, normally?" I know there might not be an outright answer for this, but I just had to know. The blonde scratched the back of his head, smiling wryly.
"Honest, Kairi—I really don't know, I've known Olette since kindergarten ... I just never thought of her like ... well, like this—so when it happened, I wasn't sure what to do, what to say, how to act... I just felt like, something's different—but it's a good different." He assured, hugging the brunette lightly over her shoulders. The twinge on my chest won't stop, it was all too similar ... so reminiscent of what I feel.
I stretched my hand up, and casually covered the upper half of my face; if I see their grinning faces, I think the confidence I built up would just fall. "But don't you ever feel like you're holding her back? I mean Olette's been chosen for scholarships from Twilight Town to Traverse Town ... didn't you ever feel like you're being this iron trap for her cause you know that those scholarships are once in a lifetime." My heart was pounding, even if they do reply I think I won't hear it due to the deafening beating in my ears.
"Oh tell me about it! That was the main source of drama last month," she giggled happily reminiscing those times of overly expressed affection.
The blushing blonde pouted, "Hey! It wasn't easy for me to say that! I thought I'd lose you for good then!" he crossed his arms, still the pout remained. Although, I love my friends, and they are meant to be as of now—what Hayner said ...
"Hay-ner..." she muttered in a low inaudible tone.
"That was just... too... well, too over share." I laughed, and Olette joined in too.
"Sorry ..."He chuckled, but then turned into a serious note. "Yeah, you guys could sue me for making you throw up, but after I found out that Olette had been sent two or three acceptance letters I didn't know what to do. We just got together then; and I know that she had wanted to go to Traverse University since she was in elementary. I was thinking that hey, maybe she won't go because of you, Hayner, I was practically digging my own grave." He stopped and whilst he continued further, his caramel coloured eyes only focused on deep emerald ones.
"But then, she said to me—before the day I planned on breaking up- I was so surprised with Traverse University—it was my dream Hayner, but if I do go there now ... I might as well leave everything behind. Right then and there, I knew what she wanted, and what she would be choosing." He smiled, they stared into each other's eyes as if those silent stares were a language only they could decipher.
"I had dreamed about TU since a kid; and I still think about it sometimes. But if you asked me if I regret leaving that behind — I'd say, no. I took my chances with what I want, and so far I know I'm not missing anything, or feeling the least bit unhappy." She was smiling; I took my cue to leave. It was obvious that with whatever step they were assigned to; may have been making sure that I take my chances with what I've got. They taught me that too well, and the more pang I feel since all their helping got me a teensy bit, jealous.
"... 4 hours to go..."