Rated: 'M' for language and adult themes.
Disclaimer: Don't own Kingdom Hearts if I did it wouldn't be the Kingdom Hearts as we all know it.
Warnings: This will eventually be a Riku/Sora fiction with a twist. It's a huge one you won't guess. Some of you will like it and some of you will think that I'm crazy for even posting this. But I want to do some thing different that might cause tears but it'll be happy. I promise.
Chapter 1
And it Begins
It was the end of the world. The girl pushed her brother into the car ran around to the drivers side, she stuck her middle finger up at the house they were leaving. The door of it threw open and the window of it shattered.
"SCREW YOU!" the girl screamed and opened the driver door and slammed shut. Panting, the furious driver threw the car into reverse just as the engine kicked on, and lurched the car out of the trailer park. Your typical white trash bum stumbled after the car screaming and waving his beer bottle before finally throwing it at the retreating vehicle. So drunk that the man did not even hit the car but ended up shattering it on the pavement at his feet. He howled in anger and frustration before stumbling back up to his beat up house. Though the two in the car would not know it but somewhere his muddled heart felt some grief and as the man walked inside he fell to the floor in anguish. His only daughter and son gone because of him, some would stop drinking right there, instead he called to his ditzy wife for another beer.
Thirteen-year-old Riku sat with his head against the window of the beat up Volkswagen Beetle. The scenery of the backwoods slowly changed into that of a small city. They were still in the same county he noticed but probably closer to the older girl's school. Still all that had happened he did not want to cry, because as his sister said, crying was for babies. Though he still couldn't stop the flow of salty tears that sprang from his eyes. He pulled his silver hair over his face, so his sister would not see. She looked just like him; yet, her eyes were a fierce emerald green instead of his ocean colored ones. He sniffed and he felt the car slow down and pull over. He looked over at his bigger sibling and saw her head pounding against the steering wheel.
"Hey Rya?" he sniffed failing to hide his emotions. "Are . . . are you ok?"
Rya pulled her over sized sunglasses off and leaned over to give her younger brother a hug. "Yeah everything is going to be all right. You hungry? There's a Taco Bell over there or do you want a burger?"
"Why were mom and dad so angry at you? Is because of my 'F'? If it is Rya I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get us..." Riku turned his teary gaze on to his sister, he hated to be the cause pain and torment for her. For as long as he could remember the girl had always stood up for him. She was his angel in the hell that they lived in. She was only five years older than him but still she was the closest thing he had to a mother figure. She was brash, loud, and he adored her in every way.
"Taco Bell it is, we'll talk when we get to our new home. I've got a couple of friends we can stay with ok?" the girl interrupted her younger brother. Was he the problem? No their father's drinking was. That man was a sorry excuse for a living being and Rya would not allow for him to hurt her brother again. She wished she could have round house kicked him out of the room. She looked at her brother knowing that he probably didn't even hear his stomach growling. She needed to eat if they didn't they would end up starving themselves. Slipping her glasses back on to the bridge of her nose she pulled the car into traffic.
Riku wasn't really hungry until he ordered something. Something about Taco Bell always made hime hungry. They ate in silence, and Rya still hadn't taken her glasses off, a lot of people stared at the couple and with a frown the silver haired girl sent them looking another way. "We'll take our drinks 'kay, Squirt?" Riku nodded and they walked quickly out to the car.
Rya left no room for the boy to ask any more questions, for she quickly turned on some music. Emery blared from the cars pathetic speakers. Riku just sat in his own misery again feeling the tears well up in his eyes again. He watched the trees and small buildings pass by. Just by looking at the seagulls flying overhead he could tell that they were close to the ocean. Suddenly Rya turned into a backwater apartment complex. The boy grabbed the "Oh shit bar" above his head, that was what Rya called it anyways.
"Riku we're going to be living with a few friends of mine, just until I can get us a place. Just an FYI they really don't like little kids so do me a favor and give 'em hell, kay?" Rya smiled though Riku could see that a single tear fell down her cheek as she parked the car.
Riku turned his face to the older girl, "I know you say only babies cry but… can I be a baby this one time?" It was almost a plea.
Rya, threw her glasses in the back, got out of the car, walked around, and opened the passenger side door. She quickly pulled the younger boy into her arms and whispered into his ear, "we'll both be babies right now, how 'bout that?"
Riku nodded and laid his head on her shoulder and sobbed 'I'm sorry' over and over. Rya kissed the boys forehead and laid her own cheek against his head, her own silent tears wetting the boy's silvery hair, "It's not your fault Squirt they are just bad people. I don't know how they birthed kids like me and you but I promise you we'll never be like them."
They stayed like that for a few moments before pulling apart. Rya popped the trunk of her little car. "Come on let's grab this stuff and head up to Cloud and Leon's apartment."
Riku held his stuff and slightly hid behind his sister as the door to the apartment opened and revealed a man with long brunette hair. He frowned at the couple and Riku couldn't help the little shiver of fear that settled in his gut. This guy looked as if he belonged in a baseball bat carrying, gun wielding, biker gang. Riku looked up at his sister watched for her reaction. He half hoped that she would say sorry that they had the wrong apartment number. Rya just hurriedly pushed her sunglasses on so the man looking at them would not see the tears building in her eyes. The man cocked his eye brow in surprise, "Well look what the cat dragged in."
"Hello to you too, Grumps" Rya's voice cracked and Riku knew she was trying her hardest to hide her emotional state. "Can we come in, Leon, or did you change your mind 'bout what we agreed, because if you did I'll have to drag your ass out here and curb stomp you."
Riku stared at his sister's bravery, or foolishness, as she threatened the man. He was about to step in and pull his sister back as the man frowned. Yet to his very surprise, Leon, gave his fiery sister a nod and opened the door wider with his frown deepened, "You're brother too?"
Rya nodded, she took off her glasses, now that she thought she had a better grip on herself that Leon let her in, "Yeah, I couldn't just leave him behind at that hell hole. What kind of bitch would I be then?"
"That's noble. Cloud's in the shower," he gave a sigh and rolled his eyes. "Follow me to your room."
Rya turned devious for a minute, "oh? did we interrupt something?"
"Rya." Leon warned the girl.
Riku could not tell if his sister was serious or joking or both. In the end both sibling fell quiet as Riku followed his sister and looked into the tiny room. The walls were blank, and the only furniture in the room was a couch, probably a futon. The carpet was beige and slightly stained here and there. The boy put his small duffel bag into a corner and looked expectantly at his sister. For all her talk she was five three nothing, yet she kept in shape by her kickboxing or martial arts training. Slim yet tough, Riku would not be surprised if the girl could curb stomp the biker looking Leon. Her silvery hair waved down to touch just under her shoulder blades, if she let it down besides that she usually kept it up in a pony tail and let the loose strands of bangs hang down. Riku and Rya's face structures were nearly the same except hers of course was more feminine. The most striking difference was the fact that her eyes sparkled emerald green and his were the color of the ocean.
Leon was leaving and closed the door behind him. Probably to give the two some coping and adjusting time. Rya sat on the futon and buried her head into her hands. The seventeen-year-old girl sighed and sobbed into her hands. Riku sat next to her and rubbed her back in a comforting manner, this wasn't his strong sister as he remembered. This was a lot on her shoulders. They would have to fend for themselves. Him being thirteen he doubted he could even help either of them. At least they would have a place to stay. Rya leaned back and pulled her brother to them. He laid his head on her shoulder and relaxed. Riku left her alone until she could stop her emotional state. Finally in one great sigh, she dried her eyes and sniffed.
"Rya, can we talk now?" Riku said quietly.
"It's not your fault. Quit blaming yourself, Riku, our parents are just pieces of shit ok?"
"Are you going to tell them?" he nodded at the door referring to Leon and Cloud.
"Yeah, I'll tell them the story, I mean we are in their house. Plus Squall Leonhart and Cloud Strife have been my best friends for a long time." Rya chewed a nail and began to run her fingers through he brother's hair. "Things are going to be pretty rough, Squirt, but we'll get through. Promise."
Riku was about to respond when the door opened. "You guys will. Plus me and Mr. Grumpy Gills are going to help you," a spiky blonde haired man entered the room followed by Leon.
"Cloud I will get you for that," the brunette warned.
The blond man perched himself opposite of Rya. Riku noticed he was more talkative than the brunette but he carried the same stoic persona. Also that he was damp from the shower. So this was the other man they would be living with. Riku was glad at least he would probably talk more. Though he did remember Rya's warning, they did not like kids, so maybe he would be ignored around the house. Either or, as long as he did not have to go back to his father's house he was ok. Truth settled in and a happy warm feeling came over him, these two men looked as if they could break Riku's father in half. For the first time he felt safe and protected even in a room with two strangers.
"So Rya tell us what happened," Leon, it seemed more like he demanded, but as he sat next to the blond he waited turning his attention to Rya.
Cloud piped up, "drunken rage from your father again?
"
"Something like that…." Rya started and placed her arm around her brother. "Basically this is what happened. Riku got an 'F' on his project 'cause the Lazy Bastard, AKA, daddy dearest, wouldn't go buy the supplies he needed, and of course the Bitch, AKA, mommy dearest, wouldn't go either, because the Lazy Bastard said we need to conserve money. More like he needs to have beer and liquor money.
"Ok, I don't have a job anymore; because according to the Lazy Bastard, I need to be home and take care of him while the Bitch works. So whatever, I don't like leaving Riku alone with that tyrant anyways. I couldn't buy the supplies, so Riku gets an 'F'. The Lazy Bastard, drunk as fuck, goes to Riku's door throws it open… screaming at him. I get home, from school, and the court house, and hear the commotion. So I go back there and the Lazy Bastard has Riku laying on the bed and ready to strike him with the belt . . . IN THE FACE!"
"What?" Cloud and Leon snarled and looked at Riku. He stared back. He could relive the moments. That was not the first and only time his father had beaten him. He'd have scars on his back and rear, probably forever from the old man. That was another reason his sister had tried to put him in a martial arts class.
"Let me finish!" Rya pulled her brother tighter to her as if having to save him again from their father's harshness. "So I grab the belt and with my temper, I started screaming like, 'What the fuck is wrong with you?' Riku was smart and ran from the room and the drunk grabs me by my hair and sits us both on the couch. Mom walks in and is like 'dear what's going on? Tee hee hee'" Rya's voice went high pitched and copied their mother's obliviousness.
"I lost it. I turned to my father and handed him the emancipation papers and form for them to hand Riku over. My father was furious of course and my mother was just like, 'oh well you'll come back,' with that fake sick smile she wears. They signed the papers and handed me twenty dollars. Of course drunken idiot didn't know what he was doing and started to chase me from the house as I was getting the rest of my stuff. Anyways, the rest is history. They make me sick; Riku and I'll never go back. Fuck them both." Rya spat out violently.
Riku just looked at his sister and sighed, she was glaring at a spot on the floor, no tears now just he could feel the stream of curses she was screaming in her head. Something dawned on him, that's what the papers were for. He and Rya were really never going back. He sighed again and sat up from his sister's shoulder. So this is how things were really going to take place. He looked at the two men that were in the room with them. Leon had moved and sat on the arm of the futon. "So… you're free. But with no place to go."
"Nope no where but here," Rya sneered, "whatever, you guys, I don't know how to repay you, but I know I'll go soon and look for a job. If you two would, look after Riku for me? Then when we get on our feet we'll get out of your hair. I know how much you two just love each other."
Riku saw a playful glint light up in his sister's eyes. He knew that look well she used it when she went to teasing Riku about something. He closed his eyes and opted not to say anything. He sighed for the umpteenth time, it is what it is, was his sister's favorite saying and he felt the tears pool in his eyes again and followed silent streams down his cheeks.
"Alright you three, I'm going to bath and get these sweats off. Riku, now you're being a baby, chin up, and Squirt, don't let Grump and Silent psyche you out. They don't bite," with slight smile she grabbed her duffel and went to the guest bathroom.
"We'll leave you to unpack. I'm Cloud, by the way, and the strong silent one is my boyfriend, Leon. If he says more then three words to you feel privileged," Cloud smirked and Leon sent the blonde a you're-going-to-pay-for-that look.
"I'm Riku and ditto," Riku smirked at the two figures walking out of the room. He had a feeling something more was going on between the two males. He grabbed his own duffel and moved to the closet. He sighed and started hanging up his clothes. And repeated in his mind, 'It is what it is.'
A/N: Third revision. I did NOT like the first sentence. Made no sense what-so-ever. I apologize for that. Anyways boredom is kicking in and I'm going to see if I can't add some more to this story. It's a hot of the press rough draft story. It'll never be published and I don't plan on making it big. It's just a big idea that needed to get out and be shared. Thanks. Read and review please =]
Bah bye now!
