Unattainable Desire
By Chiharu Tanaka
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Author's Notes: Hi-ho! I'm going to try something new this time, I hope you like it! And I'm very sorry for it being AU, but I tried my best to keep the characters original! (Yeah, right.) Anyway, on with the show! Please read and review!
Rated T for language, mild violence and sexual suggestions.
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts nor the Final Fantasy Series. They all belong to the wonderful company Square Enix.
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Chapter One: Enclosed Dreams
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The strong scent of tobacco mixed with nicotine and tar filled the air. The room was dark, lit only by a florescent lamp hanging on the ceiling. The room was filled by furniture such as a torn and stained sofa, a few plastic chairs, a small television, a table and a simple bed with torn sheets. A young man, his age no older than 18, was overlooking the city through an open window. His cold blue eyes darted left and right, up and down at the busy streets far ahead in the uptown, filled with cars and rich snobs.
Those uptown snobs won't last a day here in downtown Mirage.
Mirage was the name of the prosperous city. Or so most people thought it as prosperous. Downtown, the people lived in rags, while the uptown lived in pure luxury and indulgence. The strong blow of wind hit against the young man's face. He raked his fingers through his mahogany brown hair. After a few minutes, he closed the window and turned back to his bed. He picked up a photo frame, one of the only things that looked prized in the dull room. It was a picture of a man with blond hair and blue eyes, a woman with mahogany brown hair and green eyes, and a picture of the young man himself, a young boy with his parents.
The uptown bastards killed my parents…and I was left alone. They're all good for nothing assholes. Thank God Cid and his gang took me in. I'm going to get revenge on those uptowns…starting with their most precious princess.
There was a knock on the door. "Sora, my boy, are you in there?" said a low, fatherly voice. Sora turned to the door.
"Come in, Cid."
Cid came into the room. He was a man in his mid thirties, with sandy blond hair and stubbles on his chin. He had a toothpick in his mouth to substitute for the cigarette he just finished smoking. He wore a white t-shirt and blue jeans, as well as army-like boots.
"Ah, I know yer very capable, Sora. So are you ready for tonight?"
"Of course."
"Okay. Be downstairs at 1930 hours sharp."
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Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, namely uptown Mirage, a young maiden of 17 was also inside her room. Unlike Sora's, her room was large and well-furnished. The walls were painted with a rich shade of lavender and cherry blossom, and there were painted motives on the bottom half of the wall. There was a large four poster bed at the centre of the room, overlapped with a thick layer of maroon satin sheets and a few silk covered pillows. Red drapes hung over the tall posts of the bed.
She gently combed her shoulder length burgundy red hair, seated in front of her dressing mirror. Her cheeks were lightened by a touch of cherry pink coloured blusher. Her long, black eyelashes, lengthened by mascara, accentuating her beautiful sapphire eyes. She was wearing a long dark blue evening gown with a high cut on her right thigh. With a final spray from her expensive perfume bottle, a gentle mix of sandalwood and geranium, giving of a sensual scent, she looked at her reflection, satisfied.
A terse knock came upon the door. She gave off a tired sigh, and put up a fake smile. "Come in," she said.
A man, just around 29 years of age, with a rich sandy shade of blond hair, brilliant blue eyes and a big pearly grin plastered on his face, wearing an elegant tuxedo came into the room. "Are you ready, Kairi dear? I sure hope you are!" he said, smiling at the maiden.
"Yes, I'm quite done. Let's go," she said, picking up her black purse and walking towards the door. The man closed it behind her. "You're early today, Tidus," she said again. "It's just an ordinary dinner…what's so special about it?"
"Kairi, I laugh at your sense of humour. This is the biggest event of the year! It's the gala dinner to celebrate Mirage's prosperity! It's a national holiday for crying out loud!" exclaimed Tidus, walking beside her.
Yeah, and I celebrate it in the most fashionable way every year. I wish I could just stay home in my t-shirt and skirt and watch the parade live on TV.
Kairi just giggled along with him as they took the elevator down. Once there, they walked towards some occupied sofas in the condominium lobby. Kairi and her parents owned a penthouse in that building. Her father was the most influential political businessman that was voted President a couple of years ago. Her mother was an heir to a worldwide chain of luxury hotels and resorts. Naturally, she was the girl born with everything a girl could want. A perfect life. However, that was not at all what she thought of her life.
She was tutored since kindergarten up till graduation, which was earlier that year. She was supposed to leave Mirage to study business overseas, seeing she herself is an heir. Although she was literally swimming in billions of dollars and fed caviar everyday, her life felt somewhat incomplete without friends and love from her family. She knew her parents loved her very much, but they were too busy to actually pay attention to her growing up.
The only people she really considered family was Tidus, a young man who's heir to a few large companies, one in architecture and buildings, another with factories producing snacks for worldwide shipping, and another for cellular connections. He was also the founder and the owner of a new company, which was kept secret from public – a company dealing with safety of VIPs and espionage on downtown Mirage. She also had a best friend of her own, Tidus's younger sister, Naminé , who was about a year younger than her.
Seated on an armchair was Kairi's father, a man with dark brown hair, bright blue eyes and a pair of thick square glasses over the bridge of his nose. He was also wearing a tuxedo. Her mother was seated on two-seated sofa next to the armchair. Kairi's mother was a stunningly beautiful woman for her age, with long red waves of burgundy hair and a warm shade of hazel brown eyes. She was wearing a maroon gown. Naminé was seating opposite of Kairi's mom, on a sofa that was against the wall. Naminé was a petite girl with fair pinkish skin, brilliant blue eyes like her brother, and a lighter shade of blond hair compared to her brother's. She was wearing a light blue dress with a simple design. Their parents had divorced a few years back, so Tidus was with his father, while Naminé was with her mother.
Kairi took a seat beside her mother, fiddling with the long white gloves that covered from the tip of her fingers until about halfway her upper arm. Tidus took a seat beside his sister and smiled at the company he had.
"Well, before we leave, I arranged for the usual bodyguards to follow us around. Oh, except you, Kairi – I assigned a new bodyguard for you."
What! Rude was such a good bodyguard! He really made me feel safe. Even though he was too quiet, but hey – he strikes fear in the hearts of many.
"Let's go, now, wouldn't wanna be late!" he chimed. Kairi's parents walked off first with their bodyguards, as they were taking a limousine ride to the dinner first. Tidus and the two girls walked down the lobby second, greeted by three bodyguards. Rude was still there, fortunately for Kairi. He was a tall, dark-skinned, bald-headed man with loads of earrings on his right ear. He wore sunglasses all the time, so Kairi never really saw what his eyes were like. Another bodyguard standing beside Rude was someone she knew, who was Naminé's bodyguard. Her name was Elena, and she was a perky, chirpy girl who talks non-stop, with short blond hair and hazel brown eyes.
The third bodyguard was completely new to both Kairi and Naminé, as they had never seen him before. He was quite tall, slightly shorter than Tidus, with a peculiar shade of platinum silver hair that was shoulder-length and marine blue eyes that looked like the ocean. All three bodyguards were wearing black suits over a white shirt and a black necktie.
"Well, you two know Rude and Elena," said Tidus, "But Riku here is a new recruit. He'll be your bodyguard for the time being, Kairi."
Tidus is overworked, alright. He's letting this silver-haired freak protect me? He doesn't even look 20! His handsome face is more suited to become an actor on those cheesy soap operas than protecting my life.
"I'm going to go ahead with Rude, so you four will take two more limos over there," said Tidus again, pointing to two limousines coming up on the driveway. He climbed in the backseat of the second limousine. Rude took the front passenger seat and the driver sped off the condominium towards the dinner venue.
As the third limo came up on the driveway, Riku stepped forward and opened the door for Kairi. With an awkward smile, Kairi stepped inside the black limo and sat down. She opened the window and waved goodbye at Naminé and Elena. Riku climbed in the front passenger seat, and the limo was off towards the dinner as well.
"You…alright back there, Miss Kairi?" said a voice from the intercom, who obviously didn't belong to the experienced limo driver.
"Yes, Riku, I'm fine. Don't call me 'Miss Kairi', I'm not that old," replied Kairi. She heard him chuckle.
"Okay, if that's what you wish, Kairi."
He turned off the intercom, and so did she. She looked outside at the buildings and cars that were passing by. My life isn't perfect…nobody has a perfect life.
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Kairi tried not to flinch at the camera flashes that were aiming at her as her arrival was announced by a reporter for the news. She smiled and walked down the red carpet behind Tidus and her parents, Riku following close behind.
Ever since she turned 15, her social life was always surrounded by cameras and paparazzi. She was quite the celebrity, as she had turned down many hopeful directors and producers wanting her to sing or act. She remembered telling Naminé, "I know I sing good, and I don't need to be rich to start off that career…if I actually wanted to."
Her latest gossip was a rumour that a relationship was going on between her and teen heartthrob Roxas Parker, who's latest album reached platinum. I've never even met Roxas and they're already giving me bullshit!
The reporter with the microphone who announced her arrival came up to her and asked, "Miss Kairi! Have you any comment about the rumours about you and famous teen superstar Roxas Parker?" Kairi smiled.
"Sad to say, I've never met him before," she said, before walking on, ignoring the loud questions being thrown at her. Riku escorted her to a table that she, her parents, Tidus and Naminé, and their mother would be dining at. She took a seat that Riku politely pulled out for her. "Thank you," she said, sitting down.
Naminé came up and sat beside her moments later. "So, how did you answer the nosy reporters?" she asked, blinking.
"I keep telling them that I've never met Roxas, and they keep saying that I do! Why won't they ever listen?"
"That's because they think you're denying it."
"Right…I know Roxas is really handsome and all…but he's not my type."
"So, what is your type then, Kairi?"
"I dunno…I like guys who are not that tall…and if they're tanned. I'm turned off by fair guys after watching that ridiculous soapie 'Comet Garden'."
They both giggled. "So, what's your type, Naminé?" asked Kairi.
Naminé blushed and slapped Kairi's hand playfully. "Drop the subject…you know how I feel!"
"Yes, yes, you're still crushing on famous actor Squall Leonheart after watching him on 'Campus'."
"I heard he's coming here!" she squeaked in delight. "I wonder if I can get an autograph? Oh my gosh, I wonder what he's going to wear?"
Kairi giggled as Naminé's face and ears brightened up a red colour. "You're flaring up! Let's just relax and enjoy the dinner."
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"You know the plan, now split up and regroup at the dinner!"
That was Cid's order as the group, consisting of Sora, Cid, a ninja girl who will be performing at the dinner named Yuffie, a little group of friends who called themselves Tantalus, who also will be performing, and a good buddy of his, Wakka. The plan of the group was to infiltrate the building without getting noticed, and when Cid turns the lights off, Sora will go forth and kidnap the 'princess', by knocking her unconscious with chloroform, then carrying her out the backdoor before Cid turns the lights back on.
Wakka will be ready with a getaway car right outside the building after lowering down security, mainly by knocking out the guards and Cid hacking into the surveillance cameras. Tantalus and Yuffie would be there as backup, and a cover-up so that no one finds their hideout.
Sora was to wait for the cue, inside the building with Cid in the surveillance room. Cid reran the process of briefing Sora once more as they were on the road before arriving there. "Our target is the daughter of Zachary and Calista Herrington. She will be seated at the table nearest to the stage. At 2030 hours sharp, I will turn off all electricity inside the building for precisely 5 minutes, enough for you to kidnap her, and enough for me to turn it back on and escape. We then take Wakka's car out back. Wakka will then change the car license, and we'll be heading for downtown once more to our hideout. Clear?"
"Crystal, Cid, I hear you. I'm not deaf, you know."
The target, Mirage's little princess, was still casually talking to her friend as Tantalus was doing their sketch on stage. Yuffie was already standing by the escape route to assist Sora, which is making sure he comes out safely and quickly return to backstage.
A few seconds before 8:30 p.m. and Sora was standing ready for the kidnap to finally come. The lights when off and the room was filled with screaming and gasps. "Go check the fuse box!" said a voice. Sora pulled a pair of night vision goggles over his eyes and moved swiftly towards his target. Kairi didn't even get a chance to scream as she fainted.
"Are you okay, Kairi?" asked Riku, leaning forward towards where Kairi was sitting. He felt something push him backwards really hard and he fell down onto the floor. When he got up to point an electric rod to his perpetrator, Sora was already halfway to the escape route.
The lights slowly flickered back on, and the music from the sketch was played. Tantalus was still onstage, 'shocked' at what had happened. "We're terribly sorry, ladies and gentlemen, for that technical error," said a voice from the surveillance room. It seemed that he saw the guy who fell asleep, but he didn't know that it was because of chloroform until a loud scream echoed at the VIP table.
"Kairi!" wailed her mother. Kairi's chair was knocked over, and Riku was already searching the rear exit for the kidnappers. Naminé looked around for any signs of her, but half an hour later, Riku returned with disappointing results. The police were called immediately to handle the situation. Naminé and Kairi's mother, Calista broke down into tears. Kairi's frustrated father, Zachary, was yelling off any unfortunate pair of ears unlucky enough to be scolded at.
In short, the gala dinner…was a complete disaster.
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To be continued…
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A/n: Please review! It'll make Chiharu very happy!
EDIT 2006-05-07 I changed BHK's name to the default name, Roxas.