Scythe: Yeah, I'm starting a new fic... shoot me, I know, but honestly, I will be getting to my other ones, I promise. It might take a month, because I am moving into the dorm rooms at Sierra, so please bear with me. Thank you all so much, and I really hope you enjoy this... it was inspired by a dream...
Warnings: Some OOC (but you will like it ;)), and it's a bit of an AU, Its YAOI, and its Riku/Sora. Ok? Oh, and it might be a little twisted... more so than anything I have ever done... maybe. That should be all.
88
Juvenile Hall
Chapter 1
88
The day started like any other day on the island which had been Sora's home since he was born. However, today was to be a special day of celebration and enormous festivity for a family reunion his mother had planned. His father and mother had split off when he was young, not that they divorced, but that his father worked on the continent and his mother had wanted to stay here and raise Sora the way she thought he should be raised. And it was going rather well, she would always say.
Sora was a free spirit. He was laid back and nothing could wipe the smile from his face and he was always a very happy, content child. He had plenty of friends and a good education, and he was almost ready to end his life as a teenager and move on into the adult world. Being 16, his mother naturally was worried about the choices he made, but Sora had never let her down, and he never would, as far as he was concerned. He was also the youngest to graduate from high school with a spotless record and offers to Harvard and Yale, so of course, his reputation for goodness was known on the island, but known throughout his family as well, and all of them couldn't wait to meet him... Thus, the family reunion. It was neither on the continent, nor the small island, but the main island in between the two.
In fact, they were all getting ready to set out and meet at that very moment, Sora shoving some needed entertainment into the car they were to ferry over to the mainland, and his mother taking her leisurely time making sure she looked perfect.
"Mom, come on already," Sora whined, ready to get this show on the road and over with. She finally stepped forth, turning about like some fashion model and asking if she looked fabulous. "Yes mum, so let's go."
"Fine, fine. I'm just a little nervous, that's all." She hopped in the car and Sora began to drive. He knew why she was nervous. She always wanted to impress Dad with everything she had because they hardly saw each other. It was amazing to Sora how in love they still were, even though the distance between them was harsh and long. However, when they were together... it was no separating them.
"You know, honey, I heard that Riku might be there. Remember, from when you were little boys?"
"Oh? No kidding? That would be great!" Sora was nearly bubbling with excitement now.
He and Riku had been the prime subject on the island; 'destined to be famous' some said. The two were so involved in athletics, and both were so good looking, that everyone encouraged them to model or go to the continent to train in athletics. Neither idea really appealed to Sora, but Riku had wanted to model badly. However, between the two of them, Riku was always known as the trouble maker and Sora the little angel so when Riku left for a job offer at only 10 years old, all the common folk speculated he'd never return... and he hadn't. In fact, Sora had only heard from him once; a letter that Riku was able to write to him about four years previous to current day. It read:
Sora,
Life on the continent isn't so bad, you know. I've already made a ton of money with all this modeling. I can't say I miss island life, because city life is so much more suiting to my needs but I know you'd rather sit around on that island and play all day rather than come visit me, right? I'm kidding, you idiot. I'm supposed to be dropping by the island in a month, so I'll see you there!
Always,
Riku
Of course, every word in that letter hurt him, not the silly teasing or that he'd been called an idiot, but the fact that Riku had said he'd rather stay on the continent, not to mention he didn't 'drop by the island' a month later either. And what was worse, Riku never sent him a letter explaining why he didn't come... After another two years of not hearing from him, the poor islander lost hope and moved on... or so he told himself.
For some reason, the two had been unbelievably close... maybe too close, some thought, but most shrugged it off as innocent friendship that was just unbreakable. Sora had never felt anything remotely close to what he had shared with Riku, even when he found a new best friend named Tidus, or went out with Kairi. Needless to say, Sora was emotionally scarred for life by what Riku had done. That stupid silver haired kid didn't even say goodbye before he left...
He dwelled on the thought, almost missing the turn off to the ferry. He apologized to his mother profusely when she went on about how dangerously he drove and how he should keep his mind on the road and all that other motherly stuff he'd heard already when he was first learning how to drive... but she was right. He needed to keep his thoughts straight and focused. Thus, he booted that silver haired boy from his mind assuming he'd never see him again. And he probably wouldn't.
Just as he thought, when he got there he was swamped by hugs and kisses and pinched cheeks and everything family did when reunited. He laughed politely and paid his respects to every single relative, even if he didn't know them. When he saw his parents hug and look into each other's eyes, he sighed deeply with a smile. The love he felt from them radiated into the room and made everyone feel good. However, when Sora laid eyes on Riku's parents, his stomach fell. They were headed right towards him.
He smiled, never letting his image falter as they gently clapped him on the back.
"We have heard such great things about you, Sora! It has been so long, indeed!"
"Yes, it has," Sora exchanged. They sat and chatted idly of how he was planning to go to college and how he didn't quite know what his major was as of yet and how he wanted to get a job, and all the normal talk. But when the subject of Riku came up, even his parents looked confused.
"Riku? He moved out when he was only 15 and we haven't seen him since... He really took off in modeling, you know? And he said he was going to live with his agent so he could always be on call and go with him to the locations. We tried to make him stay but he ran away." The father said, sighing softly as the mother just turned her face away and held her handkerchief to her lips.
Sora, ultimately feeling terrible about bringing him up, changed the subject to some idle chat about how excited he was to be here and how everyone was so kind. When the moment of trauma passed, the two went on their way and left Sora to explore the hors d'oeuvre selection. He was quite content until he heard a few older women whispering about Riku... Why was it that when all he was trying to do was forget him, he was everywhere?
He could have ignored them, but he didn't, keeping an ear open despite his minds call not to listen.
"That Riku, you mean? Yes, he is a terrible mark on this family! Ran away from home, you know." One said matter-of-factly.
"Oh I know! But didn't you know? His parents couldn't control him. He was doing drugs and stealing and the like. You know how the city corrupts, darling."
"Such a shame... He could have gone far in life."
"A shame indeed; A shame he wasn't more like that Sora, no?"
The faceless voices made him want to blanch, for he refused to see their faces lest he recognize them and permanently bear a grudge... Although he couldn't figure out why he would do that if he was over that stupid, city loving, egotistical ex-best friend of his. Even so, he didn't like hearing people talk badly about others.
He meandered to the bar area which was, for once, currently deserted. He sat down and smiled at the bar-tender. He was an interesting looking fellow with a bandana over his head, covering any trace of hair he might have, and his eyes were a strange brown, and his face looked oddly marked, but Sora wasn't one to judge, so this man received a smile like any other. When he came over to him, he perked a bushy brown eyebrow as if to ask what he wanted, and Sora quickly stopped staring and nodded.
"Shirley Temple, please," and a cheesy grin. The bartender gave him a look that he couldn't decipher, but returned immediately with his drink... with extra cherries. Sora laughed. "Who told you I love extra cherries? Or could you just figure by my look?"
The bartender just shrugged. And went about cleaning some classes and counter tops. But no sooner had he begun to sip his drink, his one and only best friend Tidus swept up behind him and hugged him tightly.
"Sora! Sorry I'm late!"
The bartender turned at the disturbance with an unreadable look, but Sora hushed Tidus and laughed softly, putting a finger to his lips.
"You're so loud, Tidus..."
"What can I say? I'm excited. Thanks for inviting me."
"No need to thank me, Tidus, you're family now. You're my best friend and my mom was actually the one who assumed you were coming." He laughed. "Sometimes she forgets that we're not together twenty four hours a day."
"Seven days a week," Tidus laughed, nudging him. "Hey, what do you have there? Shirley Temple? Of course, you're favorite drink."
"And extra cherries!" The islander grinned as he ordered some orange juice with coconut for Tidus.
"So have you been thoroughly kissed to death by your relatives?" Tidus said, taking a perch beside him.
"Yes... Gods I'm already tired. I can't believe this party is going to go on for three whole days."
"Ha. Yeah, and you have to be here for every single one of those three days. Don't worry. It'll go by really fast." Tidus patted his shoulder and gave it a little squeeze. "Why don't we go out tonight and check the main island out?"
"Tidus... we shouldn't."
"Oh, come on... Just the two of us. I want to do something special for you. Just a quick spin so I can give you your surprise, and we'll be back before anyone even knows we're gone."
Sora could never say no. "Ugh, alright. But if anything happens, you get the blame," he joked, giving him a little shove.
"Right. Let's go in about... thirty minutes? It's already dark, and we don't' want to be out too late."
"Sounds good," Sora replied, receiving another Shirley Temple from the bartender.
88
Since neither could wait, they were out of there in half the time and laughing with the adrenaline of sneaking away without permission. Sora tossed himself into the car, Tidus on the passenger side. He revved the engine and made his way out on Tidus' directions.
They talked and reflected on past events, Tidus advising Sora to take up one of those offers to Harvard or Yale or something as such. But no sooner had they gotten onto the main streets Sora began to feel a bit awkward. He didn't know how to describe it, but his stomach felt really empty and he was beginning to sweat a bit. He was still ok to drive, or so he thought, but he got confused as to what Tidus was saying, accidentally confusing his right with his left and nearly running a few red lights. Something was wrong... very wrong.
"Tidus... I don't feel so good. We should turn around."
"Whoa, Sora... you ok? You look pale. Maybe I should drive..."
"No, let's just go home. If something happened while you were driving..." But he trailed off, not really knowing what he was saying, and his vision was getting blurry. He heard car horns and urgent yelling. Someone was calling his name frantically, shaking his shoulder, grabbing for the steering wheel... but it was too late. They hit something and it sent the car tumbling, rather slowly in Sora's mind. He couldn't quite figure out what was going on, but he knew he was in danger.
Within seconds, he blacked out, not even knowing if everything was alright...
88
When he woke, he felt weighted down by something, but as he looked at his body, he found nothing. He was in a hospital room, a bandage around his arm and head, and an IV in his arm. He cringed. He hated needles. His heart was pounding, and there was someone crying beside him, though he couldn't figure out why he was here, or why someone would be crying at his reunion...
Then it sank in. A hospital room? An IV and bandages? He wasn't at his reunion... he was in... well... a hospital. His stomach sank and his breathing quickened. Boy was he in trouble.
"Mother..?" He called out, his voice raspy. The sniffling stopped momentarily until he saw someone stand and loom over him.
"Sora? Sora, baby?"
"Yeah..."
SLAP.
His eyes widened, and then filled with tears of sorrow as he looked up at his mother. She was gritting her teeth as tears streamed down her face and spoke through clenched teeth.
"How DARE you? How dare you take my car while you are intoxicated? I told you that you could drink because it was a special occasion, but I did NOT say that..."
Her words fell upon deaf ears. He could hear past the part where she said he had been intoxicated. Intoxicated? He hadn't drank anything but a Shirley Temple, so what was she going on about?
"But... I didn't drink anything... just a..."
"Do not sit here and tell me you didn't drink anything when you are lying in a hospital bed injured, my car is totaled, and Tidus is in the Emergency Room!" The tears came back, so strong that Sora could feel his heart ripping in two. Tidus was in the emergency room?
It must have showed on his face, for his mother finally settled for just crying softly instead of condemning him. They sat there together in joined pain as tears fell down their faces and their lives were changed so drastically.
88
Life after was a blur of condemnation and sorrow. Tidus was no longer able to play blitzball, Sora was shunned in the public eye, and everywhere he looked seemed to go quite and whispers started. He was scheduled for Court in one hour where they would ultimately decide his fate. However, when the sentence was passed, he couldn't believe it.
Not only was his driver's license taken away, as expected, but he was being sent to Juvenile Hall... for six months on the continent.
88
Scythe: OH HO. What now? What twists can I throw at you? So many more and they are on their way in the next chapter which will be posted IMMEDIATELY. Yay.
