"Stop laughing!" Kairi, Selphie, and Namine glared down at the ninja girl who was, at this point, rolling on the floor from laughing too hard.
"That's gotta be the stupidest thing I've ever heard!" said ninja shouted.
"Or the most romantic…" said Namine with a sigh and dreamy expression.
Yuffie stood up and brushed herself off giving them all weird looks.
"So," she began, "you all think that someday at exactly twelve-o-clock you're going to meet 'prince charming' prancing around on his white horse," she skipped around in an idiotic manner to demonstrate, earning her several more glares, "and then you'll both just fall in love instantly?" she mocked hands on hips.
"No," said Selphie sourly, "I said that if you meet a guy at exactly twelve you'll fall in love with him… I didn't say instantly…"
"But you meant it," teased Yuffie.
"Did not!" retorted Selphie, "It might be instant it might not be… the point is you will fall in love with them whether you like it or not!"
Yuffie stared at all three girls for five seconds before she threw her head back and laughed. The other girls looked scandalized.
"Fine," said Kairi huffily, "do what ever you want Yuffie, but don't come crying to us when you're a wrinkled and lonely old biddy." The three girls stalked off leaving Yuffie standing there wondering why that last comment had upset her so much…
Yuffie's POV
Swish, swoosh, swish, swoosh…
I kicked up the sand underneath my feet as I walked down the beach happily. This world was so pretty and there were so many shiny things hiding in the sand. Me like shiny stuff.
Leon, Aerith, Cloud, Cid and I were staying on Destiny Islands. Cid got to drive even though I wanted to drive. Poo. We were all staying at Sora's house. At first Sora's parents had agreed to let us stay without question but for some reason they looked nervous when they saw us… I wonder why… Oh well.
We'd spent the last hour and a half unpacking and getting settled. Well the others did anyway; I was searching through Sora's house looking for materia (I know it's there! If I could just find it!). Because the others claimed I had done zero work they decided it was my job to go and fetch Riku. The way they said it, it was like they thought getting him away from the little island was hard or something.
I hopped out of Sora's boat and walked up to the Paopu tree/bench/thingy. Riku was sitting on it lost in thought. Oooh… His hair is awful shiny… Hmmm…
Slowly I used my super-duper, uber awesome ninja-stealth to sneak up on him. Right when I was about to shout "BOO!" he said:
"Hi."
I collapsed from shock. How could he have possibly noticed me when I was using my super-duper, uber awesome ninja-stealth?! The Indignity (ooh big word)! He jumped down from the tree and held out his hand to help me up. I swiped it away.
"I don't need help!" I proclaimed once I was vertical again, I jutted out my chin boldly for emphasis, "I'm the Great Ninja Yuffie!"
"Oh,' he said smiling, "Sora's friend," he said this part a little bitterly (this made me think he's an over-protective brother like figure to Sora… Kind of like Leon is to me), "Right," he went on, "the loud, psycho, ninja chick."
My mouth opened and closed for a while until finally my vocally cordy thingies untied themselves.
"Is that how he describes me?" I asked dryly.
"Hmmm…" he said, "Psycho, loud ninja yes… Chick no… I just added that in cause you're so hott."
He folded his arms behind his head and started walking away. Somehow I felt that something was wrong with this situation… Something was off… But I couldn't quite place it.
"If you meet a guy at exactly twelve you'll fall in love with him…"
My eyes widened and my breath quickened. Without even pausing to think about how stupid it was that I was suddenly taking Selphie's words seriously I whipped out my phone and looked at the time on the clock in the top right hand corner of the screen.
12:00 and thirty seconds… Oh my God! I met him exactly thirty seconds ago! That meant that is was twelve-o-clock then! Wait a minute why am I panicking?
"Are you okay?" asked Riku as he turned around to face me and when I spotted the worry in his eyes my breath quickened and my hearts sped up.
Oh that's why…
"You feel a little warm… maybe we should hurry it up…"
Riku had pressed his forehead against mine and his aquamarine eyes were boring into me. They were like two shiny orbs of materia… Pwetty… Suddenly I realized how close we were.
"Gyaah!" I pushed away and fell back onto the sand. When I looked up, much to my dismay, I found he was laughing.
He held out his hand and said, "I thought ninjas were supposed to be quiet and poised, ne?" I growled and this time I took his hand. Hey if we were supposed to fall in love then there's no harm in a little give.
"Yeah, yeah, Silver…" I muttered as I dusted off my shorts for the umpteenth billionth time today, "Laugh all you want."
He smiled at me and chuckled a little… Damn boy… Wait a minute… Boy? Just how old was this guy? I might be older than him!
"Um… uh… How old are you?!" I cried.
He stared at me puzzled for a moment. "Um, sixteen, why?"
Sixteen?! I'm a year older than him! Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-
"Are you sure you're okay?"
-ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-
"YUFFIE!!!" He tackled me and I fell and went 'oof!' and brushed off sand again. Stupid sand, stupid love, stupid Riku, stupid Selphie…
"Um, Yuffie?" I looked around where had that voice come from?
"Mind getting off of me?" I looked down.
I was sitting on Riku.
…
"Wagh!" I cried tumbling off. Both of us got up and dusted ourselves off…
"You're pretty weird," he said before walking off hands in pockets.
He was walking so slowly. I skipped ahead and turned to face him.
"Hey! You're too slow! Hurry it up back there!" He shrugged and kept walking. Not the reaction I wanted. I ran up to him and snatched his wrist and pulled him along. He looked a little taken aback at first but soon he smiled and started running ahead of me. Oh, so it's a race ya' want, eh? I sped up so that I passed him.
"You're gonna have'ta be faster then that!" I crowed. He smirked and sped up. Soon we were both going at a break neck speed. Each of us running as fast as we could (like there was an army of Heartless after us). And yet we were tied. Perfectly matched…
I think I gained some ground when I hopped out of Sora's boat faster than he hopped out of his so I was a little ahead. But then he caught up and once again we were going as fast as physics would allow. We reached Sora's house and tagged the door at exactly the same time. Crap… he's good.
Riku had one hand on the rail of Sora's porch and the other on his leg; he was bent over and breathing hard.
I had both arms wrapped around my stomach and my legs were splayed out in front of me lazily tying to catch my breath… I felt like my lungs had popped.
"Jesus, where are those two it's been forever since we sent Yuffie to get him!" Sora's foghorn of a voice reached us outside and soon Riku and I were arguing with our faces (neither of us could talk yet) over who should perform the difficult task of knocking.
"I'll go look for them," came Kairi's softer, gentler voice and it sounded like she was by the door. Sure enough the door opened and Kairi stood there taking in the sight of two teens lying on Sora's porch dying.
"Hey (pant)… Kairi (huff, huff)…" said Riku between gasps for precious beautiful air. I held up a hand meekly in greeting before letting it drop to my side.
"What happened to you two?" asked Cloud, everyone else had come to see what was going on. Riku stood up shakily and straightened up.
"We… raced… here…" he managed to get out before leaning back on the railing. I stood up too.
"How fast did you guys go?" asked Sora with raised eye brows.
"I think I heard my lungs pop," I offered and everyone's mouths formed little "Oh…"s.
"I think my brain gave out from lack of oxygen," muttered Riku as he and I stumbled into the house looking very worse for the wear. We plopped down on the couch; too tired to care that we were sitting next to each other.
"Who won?" asked Sora with interest.
"Tied," I blurted.
Riku and eye exchanged glances and I could've sworn he'd smiled at me with… affection? Nah… No way… That'd never happen…
Would it?
First chapter: from Riku's POV
I was sitting on the Paopu tree. Again, I know. I spend a lot of my time here these days. It makes me feel comfortable, and reminds me of the good old days. Sitting here with Sora and Kairi. Those two keep trying to get the "old me" back as they put it. Sora keeps telling me I'm growing distant. I guess it's true but I don't really care.
So I'm a little quieter, so what? It's not like that's a crime. I looked up at the sky wondering if Cid and the others had gotten here yet. If they did it would only be matter of time before they sent someone out here to come and get me. Or would they?
Suddenly I'm not so sure. It's not like it would make a difference if I went. I'm not going to talk much or anything in fact they probably don't even want me around soiling their fun. After all I-
Sniff, sniff… I smell someone. I tilted my head slightly and looked at the water. Sure enough, there she was reflected in the water standing right behind me. Yuffie. The ninja-girl. Sora's friend. She looked like she was trying to surprise me. I smirked, this should be interesting.
"Hi," I said blandly.
She toppled over in surprise and let out a shout. I jumped own and held out my hand for her. She knocked it away angrily; I had to admit her reaction was almost… cute. Almost. I'm not an idiot; I was taking into account all the things Sora had told me about the crazy ninja.
"I don't need help!" she said proudly, jutting out her chin for good measure, "I'm the Great Ninja Yuffie!"
"Oh," I said allowing myself to smile a little at her behavior, "Sora's friend," I repeated my thoughts from earlier, Did Sora and Kairi send her to get me? "Yeah, right," I muttered sarcastically. I looked her over again, hands on hips, she looked so proud of herself the effect was kind of… hott. Kind of. "The loud, psycho ninja chick."
She looked like a fish out of the water with her perfectly shaped lips forming such a cute round "O" I wanted to- I shook my head. Focus Riku! She's crazy, remember? You don NOT want to get "involved" with a total psychopath! Even if she is so- Oh HELL no!
"Is that how Sora describes me?" she asked dully.
"Hmmm… Psycho, loud ninja yes… Chick no… I just added that it cause you're so hott," I said before I started walking away. If Sora or Kairi were here they'd be laughing at that line. I kept walking trying to convince myself I did not have the slightest emotions for her… I failed dismally. I turned to ask her something about herself maybe start up a conversation but she was twenty feet behind me.
"Are you okay?" I asked and her expression widened even more, I walked up to her and put her forehead on mine and my hand on top of her little mop of raven hair, "You feel a little warm… maybe we should hurry it up…" I said delicately.
Her eyes were like saucers and after a few seconds she shouted and toppled backwards her arms swinging wildly like pinwheels. I couldn't help it; she just looked so ridiculous I burst out laughing. I held out my hand again and this time, much to my relief, she took it without question. "I thought ninjas were supposed to be quiet and poised."
"Yeah, yeah, Silver…" she muttered, I blinked Silver? "Laugh all you want."
I laughed little. What's wrong with me? I haven't laughed this much in a long time, I thought to myself.
"Um… uh…" she stuttered snapping me out of my thoughts, "How old are you?"
"Um, sixteen, why?" I responded. Her face was twisted in horror, "Are you sure you're okay?" I asked voice laced with worry. She looked like she was having a heart attack.
"Yuffie? Yuffie?! Yuffie! YUFFIE!!!" I shouted as I tackled her. She looked like she was having a nervous break down I swear. Somehow as we both fell she ended up on top of me. Not that I minded… It felt good…
"Um, Yuffie?" I questioned and almost laughed when she looked around for me, I decided to take pity on her, "Mined getting off of me?" I asked sardonically. She looked down at me and blinked a few times before she leapt off.
"You're pretty weird," I said sticking my hands in my pockets as I started to walk down the beach towards to boats. She skipped ahead of me and spun around to face me hands on hips.
"Hey! You're too slow back there! Hurry it up!" she ordered. I shrugged it off and kept my pace. Sora and Kairi obviously did not tell them much about me. I do not run anymore unless I have to. And right then I didn't have to so tough luck Yuffie. Only it didn't look like Yuffie was okay with that. She reached out and grabbed my wrist firmly. I had to admit I was surprised. She began to drag me along and soon I felt myself allowing her to until finally I smiled and started rushing to get ahead. Maybe I'll make an exception just this once…
We raced neck and neck and didn't even pause before jumping in the boats . I hadn't run this fast since Demyx caught me stealing his cookie jar. She gained a little ground however when she flipped out of the boat. However I pulled double time to catch up and soon enough we were tied at Sora's house. Both of us doubled over gasping for breath. Actually it wasn't that bad… I had to admit I had held myself back just to stay with her though why I didn't know.
Then again seeing the look on her face, that look of self-accomplishment, I decided it was best not to tell her…
"Jesus, where are those two it's been forever since we sent Yuffie to get him!" I flinched, Why does Sora have to be so damn loud? Yuffie looked at me raised her eyebrows and nodded at the door. I shook my head at her and jerked my head in her direction. We continued this Kairi opened the door to find both of us looking very… Tired. What with sweat plastering our clothing to our bodies and of course dripping wet foreheads.
"Hey, Kairi," I said breathlessly. Soon Kairi was joined at the door by everybody else. Cloud raised his eyebrows skeptically.
"What happened to you to?" he asked.
I stood slowly and said, "We raced here." I looked at Yuffie to find that she was standing from her fetal position on the floor.
"How fast did you guys go?" asked Sora eyeing me strangely.
"I think I heard my lungs pop," said Yuffie and everyone flinched.
"I think my brain gave out form lack of oxygen," I added grudgingly as we pushed passed the others and hobbled into Sora's living room.
I plopped down on the couch and to my great surprise Yuffie sat next to me. I guess she's too tired to notice, I reasoned. Sora walked up and asked who had won.
I rolled my eyes; leave it to Sora to care about something like that… Then again I used to ask about stuff like that all the time… Oh well, I guess getting ripped out of you body by a complete and total psychopath can change your perspective a little…
"Tied," I said simply. Yuffie nodded fervently and for an instant I wondered what would happen if I put my arm around her shoulders like all the guys do in movies. This urge was instantly squelched when images of Yuffie going all kung fu/ninja-girl on me entered my mind. Subconsciously I edged away from the raven-haired female.
Normal POV
Later that day, once everyone had settled in at Sora's house, the group was watching a movie and eating pizza. Riku was watching Yuffie attempt to eat all the cheese off her pizza in one slurp with amusement and something that resembled affection in his eyes. Kairi of course, being a princess of heart and therefore good at reading emotions, noticed this.
"Uh, Sora?" she asked nudging said boy in the ribs a little.
"Yes, Kairi?" replied the brunette.
"Weren't you going to show me that… thing?"
Everyone turned to stare at Kairi, even Riku who had decided to avert his attention for the moment. Kairi looked around sheepishly.
"What thing?" asked Sora cluelessly; oblivious to the desperate glances Kairi was giving him.
"You know," said Riku cutting in to save Kairi's butt, "that thing that you told her you'd help her with for school? The social studies project right Kairi?" Riku shot Kairi a significant glance out of the corner of his eye.
"Yeah, don't you remember Sora?" asked Kairi, while silently reminding herself to thank Riku later.
"Uh, sure…" said Sora, "whatever you say… I guess…" Kairi grabbed Sora by the arm and led him upstairs.
Back in the living room, Riku rolled his eyes to the heavens as he returned his attention to Yuffie (who was now stacking sausages). Those two are so clueless; he thought to himself, if they're ever going to get together they are definetly going to need my help… I wonder if Kairi's confessing right now… His thoughts were interrupted when Yuffie's tower of sausages toppled over causing her to scream something Godzilla ruining her creation of beauty.
"Um, Kairi, what's going on?" asked Sora once the two had reached the top of the stairs, "Why'd you drag me up here?"
"Didn't you notice?" asked Kairi her voice was filled with the kind of excitement teenage girls can only get from one thing; gossip. She put her hands together and bounced on the balls of her feet.
"Notice what?" asked Sora, utterly baffled by her enthusiasm.
"The way Riku keeps staring at Yuffie," said Kairi rolling her eyes at the blank look on Sora's face.
"He does?" asked Sora in surprise.
"Yes," said Kairi exasperatedly, "Sora, isn't it obvious he likes her."
"Wha?" asked Sora.
"Riku. Likes. Yuffie." Said Kairi very slowly in order to spell it out for him as best she could. Sora's eyes widened and he shook his head fervently.
"No way," said Sora, "Riku doesn't like anybody."
"Sora that was mean," said Kairi sternly, "it's perfectly normal for a guy to like a girl."
"But what makes you think he likes her?" asked Sora stubbornly.
"One," Kairi held up a finger, "he keeps staring at her. Two," she raised the second finger, "when was the last time Riku raced or did anything fun with either of us?"
"Umm…" Sora had to admit that last question had him stumped.
"Exactly," said Kairi smugly, "but he raced with Yuffie. Sora," she said grabbing Sora's hand playfully, "I don't think I've seen him this happy in a long time."
"Well…" said Sora, still trying to get over the fact that Kairi was holding his hand, "What do you want to do about it? If he's happy isn't that a good thing?"
"Yes, it is a good thing," said Kairi, whose voice had taken on the tone one uses with children, "but we're talking about Riku and Yuffie here. They're both so clueless it'll take them forever on their own. We should play matchmaker."
"What's matchmaker?" asked Sora.
"It's when you set two people up and get them to fall in love."
"Oh… Oh… Gee, Kairi I don't know… I mean I'm not really that good with this stuff," Sora continued to mumble incoherently.
"We can ask Aerith and the others for help," Kairi went on with a gleam in her eyes Sora had never seen before.
"Um… Okay…" said Sora.
"Great! Well, let's go finish the movie now okay Sora?" Kairi asked grabbing Sora's hand and pulling him down the stairs to go and join the others.
Riku looked up when they came in… Kairi's holding his hand?! Whoa, so that means… she really went and did it. Wow, I didn't think Kairi was that bold.
Aerith shot Kairi a suspicious look, Kairi shrugged at her and Aerith took this to mean: later.
The movie was half-way over. Cloud and Leon were munching popcorn, Aerith was sipping tea quietly, Kairi and Sora resumed their seats near the TV, Yuffie was trying to see how many gulps it would take her to drink her Pepsi, and Riku was "looking" at the screen but really he was watching Yuffie out of the corner of his eye.
Just as the movie was reaching its grand finale (they were watching The Titanic) all the girls started crying simultaneously. The boys looked around in total spastic shock; none of them knew what to do. The only girl that wasn't crying was Yuffie (damn… thought Riku. Yuffie turned around to the other girls and muttered something like "sissies".
The other girls all shot her teary glares. Yuffie laughed it off. Riku shot Yuffie an admiring look. He'd wanted to laugh at those girls for ages.
Cloud was the first guy to realize what to do. Slowly and awkwardly he put his arm around Aerith's shoulder and rubbed her back comfortingly.
When the credits started rolling everyone got up and stretched.
"Well," said Riku, "I've now seen that movie thirty-four times… due to Kairi's obsession with it… I think my life now has meaning," he added dryly.
"I know what you mean," said Yuffie jerking her thumb in Aerith's direction.
"What is it with girls who like pink and The Titanic?" asked Riku.
"We'll never know," said Yuffie.
"Hey, Kairi," said Aerith as she suddenly remembered Kairi's significant glance she'd given her earlier.
"Yes?" asked Kairi.
"I have some new make-up I want o show you! C'mon!"
Who knew Aerith was such a good liar. She continued to give Kairi a run through of the "make up she'd bought" knowing that it would drive everyone else (including Yuffie) away. When they were safely in the guest room Aerith was sleeping in (with Cloud) Aerith shut the door and turned to Kairi.
"Spill." Well, it looks like Aerith takes her gossip seriously.
"Alright," said Kairi sighing happily, "Sora and I… well Sora doesn't really care… You know how it is with boys."
Aerith nodded and motioned for Kairi to continue.
"Well, during the movie," said Kairi, putting her hands together and giggling a little, "I noticed that Riku," she paused for dramatic effect (call it 'artist's license), "was staring at Yuffie."
Aerith was speechless. There was only one way to describe her expression: agog. Her mouth was gaping and her eyes were wide.
"Riku… Who?" she stuttered over her words.
"He likes her! I just know it!" cried Kairi giddily.
"That…" Aerith stopped to think, "That… That's so CUTE!!!"
"I know! But there so clueless!" said Kairi.
Aerith stopped to consider this, "Yeah, you have a point… They need some help."
"But we can't let them know we're trying to set them up," said Kairi quickly, "knowing Riku he'd hate it if he thought someone else was trying to control him… He's very stubborn that way… Ever since the whole 'possession by Ansem thing'," said Kairi.
"Hah! You think he's bad?" asked Aerith, "You don't know Yuffie."
The two fell silent for a whole minute.
"Wow…"
"Mm-hm…"
"If we get caught matchmaking…"
"Mm-hm…"
"They'll butcher us alive…"
Aerith and Kairi stared at the wall for a moment; images of Riku and Yuffie induced terror racing through their minds.
"But," said Aerith clenching her fists, "it'll be worth it!"
"Yes," agreed Kairi assuming the same fighting position as Aerith, "for the good of LOVE!"
"Fighting!" they both cried in unison.
"Where are they?" asked Sora impatiently, "The food's getting cold and I'm hungry." He stamped his foot in irritation.
"Knowing Kairi," said Riku from his seat at the table, "it'll be another hour."
"Pfft! Knowing Aerith," said Yuffie, "it'll probably be more like four hours."
Cloud and Sora shot them both glares from there standing positions near the staircase Aerith and Kairi had disappeared up earlier.
"Maybe I should go check on them," said Cloud.
"coughPossesivecough," Riku continued to 'cough' things that resembled 'overprotective', 'obsessive', and 'paranoid'. Yuffie and Riku burst out laughing and gave each other high fives over the table; all the while being shot glares from Cloud and Sora. Cloud started heading up the stairs. He stopped when Leon said:
"Do you want to get a beauty makeover, blondie?"
Cloud instantly froze, walked back down the stairs hastily and resumed his position next to Sora. He looked shaken.