Mechanical Animal
1: Time is Running Out (Muse)
"Wow…what a view…" Sora mused to himself, caught off guard by the setting sun far out of the shore. He dismissively drops his bundle of rope and other such debris wrapped in a drop cloth he'd been charged with collecting along the beach and plops on his bottom by the shore line, not much caring if the waves drenched his clothes. The water's surface reflects brilliant oranges and pinks while the sun itself lit up the near night time sky with a fiery red. A deeply wound up feeling of appreciation and homeliness hit Sore then, still surprised Riku, Kairi and he had finally made it home after their numerous ordeals and trials dealing with the looming threat of darkness and those who harbored it for self-satisfaction.
A goofy grin now plastered on his face, the teen lets out a content sigh and jumps back up to his feet. A sudden breeze whooshes against him, mussing his already untamed brunette hair.
"Better get back before Riku throws a fit…" he murmurs to himself, relishing the sea salt air. Aside from him, Riku and Kairi were the last ones on the island while the others had retired back to their homes at the first sign of night. Sora had been assigned to pick up any shore side junk that usually washed up every now and then. The trio had made the plan to leave at the same time so stalling to gaze at the sun set probably was not the best idea though… Sora didn't find himself regretting it too much.
Spinning on his heel, Sora moves to recollect his bundle when a deafening CRACK sounds from behind him followed by a blinding blue flash of energy. Sora stifles a gasp, turning back around to look out to the ocean. What he could only guess to be electrical discharges had began erupting right above the water's surface a few meters out, lashing out and licking at the waves. The crackling grows louder and the mini electrical storm gains some strength as the energy veins spread into the empty air. Even the water lashed out in random directions as if some massive invisible hand were disturbing it and splashing the waves about.
"What…What's going on!" Sora demands of no one in particular, taking a hesitant step back. His mind was screaming at him, that he should run back and alert his friends to this potentially volatile situation. Though he found he couldn't turn away from the phenomenon even as his heart began to beat faster yet in his growing tension.
The energy then seems to implode into itself with a smack which sends a whoosh of air in all directions that nearly knocks Sora off his feet. The water finally settles and the energy dissipates though not without Sora's eye catching something or maybe even someone dropping limply into the ocean at the close of the electrical spurts.
"No…. No way!" Sora exclaims, rushing out into the water. Sure enough when the teen reaches waist deep water, he spots a humanlike silhouette bobbing gently in the waves before sinking into its depths.
"Crap!" Sora pushes himself against the waves and plunges under. Instantly his eyes burn from the salt and his vision blurs though he still manages to spot the still figure that only seemed to sink faster with each second he wasted. Not taking any time to question his own sanity Sora pushes his body deeper into the murky blue.
That better be an actual person down there or I'm going to feel pretty stupid!
Sora gains some speed though his decent is painfully slow and his lungs seem to shrink inside themselves in his exertion. When he feels that he is close enough, Sora reaches out, grasping what he could only assume to be someone's wrist. A renewing push of adrenaline forces itself through Sora's veins and he, with the figure's waist now encircled with his arm, find his way to the ocean's surface.
"HEY, Sora! What the hell are you doing out there?" Sora, while struggling to stay surfaced, turns his attention to the shoreline where he could make out the distinct figure of Riku waving to him from the beach. Adjusting his limp weight so they both better stay afloat, Sora catches his breath before yelling back: "R-Riku! Help me damn it!"
Riku doesn't hesitate in the slightest, rushing out into the waves to meet his friend. In his effort to reach his friend he spots the figure Sora was struggling to support. The boy was practically inhaling water, putting whoever he had with him before himself.
Typical Sora… Riku thought sullenly.
"Go to the shore!" Riku commands when he reaches the pair, grabbing the figure from Sora. The boy hesitates, as if not sure to trust his sudden burden with his friend. "GO!" the older boy repeats though with much more conviction. Sora finally turns back to the beach, relieved that he still had the reserve to push his way back. "And get Kairi!" Riku adds, hoping Sora had heard him. He takes a fleeting moment to observe whoever he held, noting that it was definitely a she and was not looking too well. He handles the girl next to him and somehow forces himself all the way back to the sandy beach with the girl still wrapped in his arms.
Riku takes a few seconds to catch his breath before moving himself to a sitting position. Sora was nowhere in sight so he guessed the boy must have gone after Kairi. Taking in another long breath, he finally turns his attention to the girl that lay at his side. His breathing hitches at the sight of her blue lips that were now turning a faded purple.
"Oh hell…!" Riku leans over the girl, putting his ear to her chest. Her heart beat weakly in her chest but her breath was nonexistent at this point. Of course, growing up on a place surrounded by water, you'd have to be completely stupid not to know what the hell to do in these types of situations (maidens magically appearing from electrical storms and all that jazz). Riku begins his act hastily, noticing how the hoodie she wore was twisted about her chest and torso. He finds the zipper and nearly rips the article apart to relive her from the constriction. Barely noticing the white tank underneath, Riku's face hovers over the girl's for a moment before their mouths meet for Riku to breathe in past her too cold lips. He repeats this once more before starting on chest compressions, taking care not to crush her ribs under the haze of adrenaline. He didn't know when Kairi and Sora finally arrived as he continued the process or when Sora knelt down opposite of him to grasp the seemingly lifeless girl's hand while Kairi stood behind him with worrisome tears threatening to brim over.
After administrating the approximately correct number of compressions, Riku moves back to her face to administer a couple more breaths. Finally, at the second whoosh of air, the girl lets out a gurgled, watery cough. The sea water spills out the corners of her lips as her eyes flutter open, wincing at the fading twilight. Riku brushes her brown hair from her face, panting himself from the exertion.
"You're okay…hey…" Sora comforts the girl while Riku sits back on his bottom and leans back to better regulate his breathing.
"Looks like you're still getting yourself into odd situations, huh Sora?" Riku mumbles though the humor wasn't lost in his tone. Sora glances up at his friend with a sheepish grin before returning his attention to the perplexed girl. The girl finally gains control over her coughing and hacking and tilts her head to meet Sora's eyes. They are a wonderful chestnut hue though slightly bleary from her fatigue. She flashes him a weary smile before succumbing to her exhaustion and dozing off.
"Is…is she going to be alright?" Kairi asks after a pause, the concern clear in her voice. Sora nods slowly, giving Riku another grin.
"I think so…she's just sleeping or something…"
"The question we really should be asking" Riku begins after finding the nerve to climb to his feet, "is what the hell are we going to do now?" He indicates to the girl's chest, where pinned to her tank is a small golden badge with the silhouette of a very familiar mouse head.
So while decently short, this is the first chapter! Be warned this is NOT my first fic….I've been writing such abominations since I was about 10. I just never got serious with most of what I wrote and while fun to write, I see is as a handicap to originality. But that doesn't mean I can't indulge myself. :P The chapter title represents a particular song I felt reflected the chapter (or I just happened to be listening to it while writing) and the thing in () is the artist. I highly recommend you check out whatever music I was post 'cuz it is all damn wonderful.
This takes places a few weeks after KH2 and in this version they did not receive that note from Mickey. So is it an AU? I dunno- you decide 3. CONTRUCTIVE criticism is welcomed! I plan to update very soon so if you did enjoy- keep on your toes! And I thank you for choosing to read *confetti* and please excuse my grammar screw ups-I'm a dreadful editor.
(I am aware that CPR preformed by a civilian rather than a paramedic has a very low success rate but hey…It's Kingdom Hearts! So deal)
~Misty