Kingdom Hearts: Rush
CHAPTER 1
I can tell you that there are two moments in my life that were the most influential in my life that I wish I could take back. The first was when my mother and father divorced, leaving me with my father whose parenting never was the most...influential for 'good behavior.' The second was that from my father's 'lacking' parenting skills which caused me to fall into racing.
Though I wasn't the craziest and fastest driver, I managed to drive and climb up the ladder. High-School had gone by fast since I passed time by racing at night, stealing girlfriends, and attending the parties at races, drinking to my hearts small content. Though it went to my head one night, one night.
It was the final leg of the race and my car spun out in a drift. My red CRX slid into a concrete barrier, nearly killing me and my passenger. I was sedated by the paramedics who rushed me into the hospital in critical condition. I slipped into a coma for two weeks I gained my consciousness.
Once I had regained my strength to nearly full capacity I was made aware of the girl, nearly dead and still in a coma. They found that the accident should cost me several charges, all of which I took. After many months of working off the debts, the judge let me off early.
My father found that this charge was easy and that he was angered with my behavior. After a heated fight, and several nights of sleeping out at other peoples houses my father decided to ship me off to my mother's. His overall expression was, "Perhaps your mother can teach you how to be responsible Roxas. That she will be able to make you have a better life than what I have. I never was a great father, but I tried for you, Roxas. Now after you nearly killed yourself and this girl, I cannot handle this anymore." Pathetic if you ask me.
It was the phone call my father received from my Aunt a day or so before I was to leave that she had been killed in a homicide incident. My Aunt though told my father that she would be glad to take me in under her wing.
That was the brutal back-story of my short lived life, though being a senior in a new high-school wasn't my favorite option, I didn't mind. It was my Aunt that I probably would, heck I never even met the women before three days ago, or my cousins that I may have...
It was raining outside, the rain pattering against the cool window was soothing to my mind; the rain the only reason I had been able to sleep. Then the bus traveled over another bus, smacking my head into the window and waking me from my mild sleep.
Cursing, I pulled the hood over my black hair, falling down to my shoulders, had been cut before I left. My father forcing me to trim my long hair to have a better appearance for my Aunt.
The bus was quiet, only three or so people were on the greyhound. All of them were Asians, and several of them were gulping down chopstick fulls, if that is correct, of instant noodle packs they had made before entering the bus. My stomach churned inside, the drive from Ogden had been longer than I thought and the only food I had eaten was the Jack Link's beef stick my father had given me along with a Nos.
Looking through my backpack, I pulled out my Ipod, plugging my ear-buds. Scrolling through the songs, I started playing some classic rock, AC-DC's Shoot to Thrill to start with. Pulling out the right ear-bud, I had to make sure that I heard when the driver called out my stop. I was getting out somewhere in San Francisco where my Aunt was going to pick me up and take me back to the place she was staying for the night before we headed back to Santa Cruz tomorrow.
The bus headed down the winding hills of San Francisco, the rain still pounding the bus; pounding the poor pedestrians outside, tugging their coats closer to their body as they tried to conserve more heat. The small vendors closing shop, as we passed a small artisan chocolate shop which had shut down for the night.
Taking another turn or so, the bus stopped to let several of the drenched people from outside, onto the bus. Two more people entered, a man and a woman, paying their fee and starting to dry off. Watching them at the front of the bus, they walked past my seat.
Sliding down on the seat, I closed my eyes, hoping to get a few more minutes of precious sleep which I had been unable to have. Closing my eyes, I could feel the sweet inviting warmth of dreaming begging my mind to fall prey. To taste of the succulent fruits of dozing off from reality for a few minutes; but my mind carried elsewhere as I dwelt on the events at hand.
The bus came to a harsh stop, nearly shooting me from my seat into the back of another.
Wiping my drowsy eyes, the bus driver put the stop on the screen. Waiting for a moment, two of the Asians stood up as I reread the sign, standing also.
Walking up to the front of the bus with my small duffel bag, I exited from the bus, staring out at the rain which instantly began soaking into my once dry clothes. Briskly walking to the small shelter of an overhanging roof, I looked around for my location.
Several yards straight ahead of me was what I took to be a massive wheel for turning old battleships. Fisherman's Wharf. The sign read, the blue writing barely visible in the darkness of the night.
Taking a deep sigh, I continued walking down the sidewalk, tugging my hood as close to my head as I could. The heat quickly escaped my body and was replaced with the freezing winds and pelting icy rain. Several people huddled together underneath an umbrella, while several people ran at lightning speeds to their cars.
Passing the large cafe, Boudin, the smell of sourdough bread was overwhelming as they released the steam from a vent above. Relishing in the sweet fragrance of the bakery cafe my stomach grumbled worse. Going long without food had finally started to take its toll on me. The thought of sinking my teeth into a sourdough bread-bowl; filled with creamy clam chowder only made my mouth salivate at the sheer thought of eating such a delicacy.
Half day dreaming of my gourmet feast of a sourdough bread bowl, I had walked into the intersection still caught in the thought of food. My ears picked up the high-pitched screeching of locked tires. Spinning my head a car had skidded to a halt, the driver red faced and furious with me.
"What the hell where you thinking dipshit! Walking halfway in the road? You're lucky I didn't run your stupid ass over!" Looking at the man, he rolled up his window honking repeatedly at me.
"Thanks for saving my life arrogant prick!" I yelled, showing him my middle finger as I walked across the remainder of the road.
Sitting on a bench, I watched the man drive off into the distance. Dickhead. Sorry I haven't eaten any food in the four hours I've been cramped on a small, dumpy bus. Last thing I need is to have a douche like you telling me everything I screw up on. Next time I pray that you will run me over and kill me instead of leaving me here to die in the freezing rain. Maybe if I see him again I'll tell him to kill me, better than-
A horn began honking, irritating me even more from the incident of the red-faced dickhead. Looking up, my Aunt was in he gray Chevy Impala, looking at me with a bright smiling face. This is going to be great...she already thinks that I am some misunderstood child who needs help. I am misunderstood that I enjoy racing, not sitting behind a desk writing essay after essay for a pathetic excuse of a school.
Plopping myself in the passenger seat, I put my drenched duffel bag down between my feet. My Aunt sat next to me, smiling a very large white toothy grin. Thinking for a moment on what to say, I was silent, patiently looking at her waiting for her to say something.
"Hiya Roxas! Betcha don't remember me! I am Sora! If you didn't know we are cousins, and I am super excited to have you come over and stay with us! We get to share a room and we can stay up all night talking about girls and cool stuff and hangout and play games!" The kid was excited, a bit overexcited that he had me as company. Honestly, I was more concerned he might start worshiping me.
"Settle down Sora, I am sure that Roxas is tired from the long drive he had to make here from Ogden. Anyhow, we are glad to have you with us Roxas! I figured you might be hungry, in which case I brought you a sandwich from Togo's. They are everywhere here, especially in San Jose. I am your Aunt Yuffie, I was on your mother's side of the family. It is a same that your father had to travel, it breaks my heart that those two didn't turn out. They seemed to be perfect. Anyhow, I'll get driving." She flashed me a smile before driving down the road.
Staring at the sandwich Aunt Yuffie had handed me, I unwrapped the smooth paper wrapping, revealing a deluxe sandwich, with a smell that I could never have imagined could come from such a simple sandwich. Wolfing down the entire sandwich in under a few minutes, I tried to savor the flavors as the quickly passed through my mouth. Bursting with life and savor, the sheer taste of such an amazing thing surely must have been a dream, but then I realized, when the sandwich was gone, that it was indeed reality. Full and happy, my clothes had started to dry, making me more comfortable in the Impala.
Tilting my head back to catch some sleep, Sora started talking about a card game which I had never heard of. Continuing his rambling on about the attack and defense of several monsters, I closed my eyes, pretending to listen. Somehow his voice continually rambled on and on and he found no need nor reason to shut up. Eventually, the pounding sound of the rain drowned his voice enough for me to be able to finally sleep.
I figured we left San Francisco around one or two in the morning, the drive tediously longer than it should have been, but gave me around an hour or two of sleep. When I awoke, we had pulled into the driveway of a large house, with a two car garage, several windows, and a yard bigger and greener than I had ever seen.
My Aunt turned off the engine, looking over at me, "I hope that Sora won't get on your nerves too much while you are here with us Roxas. He is excited to have someone around asides from me. He doesn't have many friends, and he plays imaginary games which is why most kids might think he is a bit odd."
"Isn't he only twelve years old though? That seems normal to me."
"He is fifteen, and kids that age now think that playing sports are better than imaginary games. They think that imaginary games are for kids with no life. It is sad but Sora keeps rather positive about it. Say, how old are you again Roxas?"
"Seventeen. My junior year is almost over which is nice, but I am not looking forward to going to school. It is draining and most of the kids at school think that I am insane, creepy, or odd because of my hair that I dyed black. I don't really care but they still think that I am weird."
My Aunt smiled, placing a hand on my knee. "Roxas, I assure you that you will be better off here. The environment here is different than Ogden and the people tend to be nicer around here anyhow. Come on inside, we need to get you out of those clothes and into a bed! After all, you probably don't want to miss out too much on your first Saturday here!"
I smiled, "Okay. Should we wake up Sora?"
Yuffie said, "Nah, he will wake up by the time I shut the car door. He usually sleeps a lot on car rides anyhow. Well lets get you inside and into a nice room shall we?"
"Sure," I spoke, stepping out of the car with my dry duffel bag. Outside of the car there was a light drizzle, nothing compared to the massive down pour of the San Francisco Bay area. Walking inside the garage, Sora groaned as he shut the door behind him. Walking in with a zombie look across his face.
Inside the house was massive, not just the height of the ceiling but also the size of the spacious rooms. The kitchen continued to put me in awe, the granite counter tops polished to a glossy sheen and the refrigerator polished so one could practically see their reflection. The pantry was among one of the greatest wonders of the world; when one would walk in you would become lost in a selection of food that ranged from cereal to oatmeal, healthy to unhealthy. This house lacked nothing, it was the true dream house that are spoken of on reality TV shows and the common gossip of married women.
Yuffie only giggled when she noticed the expression written over my face, but dropping the duffel bag on the ground probably gained her attention. I wasn't hungry, but the food in the pantry was begging to be eaten. Luckily I was able to sedate my hunger until the morning.
"C'mon Roxas, you can change into these pajamas in the bathroom and leave your wet ones in there. I had to make a make-shift room for you tonight because I need to get another mattress after Sora used the last one for a floating pirate ship in the pool. Somehow I didn't enjoy seeing a mattress sunk in the bottom of my pool..." Yuffie trailed off, no doubt remembering the events.
"Anyhow, I hope it will be okay for one night. There is your cot between the two couches and if you need anything don't be afraid to come ask me." Yuffie smiled. Somehow when she smiled, it wasn't like the other ones I had seen. Perhaps it was because her smile wasn't fake; that the smile meant she actually cared for people. That she wanted to help in anyway possible and nothing could make her lose her head. Her smile was amazing, it was kind, and it was full of caring love.
I hugged her, no doubt shocking her but I had to hug her. "Thank you for letting me stay Yuffie." I spoke quietly, she hugged me back. Fro a moment it was quiet before I released and walked over to the cot.
"We are glad to have you Roxas, always are glad to." With that, Yuffie left me to stand in the darkness of the main room. Holding the dry clothes in my hand, I pulled of my wet clothes and changed into the dry, warm, pajamas, throwing my wet clothes into the bathroom.
Taking a deep breath, I nestled myself underneath the warmth of the cot. For a camping bed it was far more comfortable than I would have ever imagined. Sighing in delight, I plopped my head back, falling into a pillow of clouds before my mind instantly went blank. Finally I would sleep.
