Disclaimer: I don't own anything associated with Kingdom Hearts, SquareEnix does. I just felt like writing this story. I've had a bit to much time on my hands u_u"
Chapter 1: Sincerely Yours
"It was awfully terrible, the temperature dropped suddenly" Kairi said hugging herself and giving a small shiver to emphasize her words despite the fact that it was a pleasant sunny afternoon. Her face was pale and her expression rather somber, her words at best could be described as over-dramatic for they seemed to feed off the attention that she was now getting.
"But that wasn't the only thing that woke me up - I had a dreadful sensation that I was not alone. There seemed to be an ominous presence lurking about the room, and that's when I heard the footsteps at the foot of the bed. I tried to sit up to see who had entered but I was paralyzed, no matter how hard I tried to move I couldn't, I couldn't even ---" She paused momentarily looking down thoughtfully at the delicate cup of rose tea that sat in front of her. The woman around her - and some of the other guest in the inn's lobby - leaned forward in interest encouraging her to continue. "I couldn't even speak. I had closed my eyes momentarily trying to convince myself that I was just dreaming or my mind was playing trick on me but when I opened them a dark figure was towering over me," the reporter side of her suddenly took over "he had to have been in his late 70's, his white hair slightly draped over his face so I couldn't really make out his features. What stands out most vividly in my mind is that long fishing pole he held in his right hand. And although the encounter may have only lasted only a few minutes I will never forget that awful night so long as I live." She shook her head as if that would make the unpleasant memory go away.
All the women that sat around the petit red head looked at each other, astonished either from shock at the anecdote or from pity at this poor maiden who seemed to have lost her mind.
"And you're sure you didn't dream this?" a valiant voice rung out causing all heads to turn. A tall woman in her mid-thirties stood defiantly across the room. The uniform she wore was perfectly tailored yet it didn't seem to suit her, she seemed far to kind to be dressed like a general. Her features were soft, aging lines yet to be visible. Her wavy chestnut hair had been tied loosely with a navy blue ribbon to match her uniform, a dark blue blazer that hugged her figure tightly. The inn's gold logo was brightly visible over her left breast, on the opposite side her name tag stood proudly.
"Are you trying to insinuate I'm lying?" the reply was filled with icy politeness.
"I'm not insinuating" the woman's voice began to quiver with anger "we've never had any reports of ghost, and why would a ghost even have a fishing pole? Were about as inland as you get! There are no places to fish here so if you are going to make up lies I suggest you come up with better stories!"
"I'm not lying, I know what I saw" the reporter stood up "and my readers will definitely hear about this!" The argument flared, both began to yell over each other. A few of the women that had been listening to the ghost story stood beside Kairi trying to hold her back. The last thing they needed was a fight breaking out.
"Mom! Mom!" The boy rushed in front of the woman with the uniform, he tightly gripped her shoulders holding her in place. It was obvious he was also part of the staff, he wore a common long-sleeved white button shirt with a midnight black vest and slacks. A similar name tag adorned his chest, although this one read "Sora".
"Just a one more day okay and besides you and I know she's lying. This place isn't haunted" he quietly pleaded with her. "More importantly, our guest has arrived." He eyed the silver-haired stranger who stood in the doorway, undoubtedly he had just witnessed the whole scene unfold.
She slowly turned, a small blush appeared on her cheeks evidence that she was embarrassed to have made such a scene. "Your right Sora" she straighten out, the boy's hands falling to his sides in one lithe movement seeing he no longer had to restrain his mother from unnecessarily attacking one of their guest. She leaned forward giving her son a peck on his forehead and turned to greet her new guest.
"Good afternoon Monsieur Rainhart, we've been expecting you." Her voice was surprisingly cheerful, void of any of the authoritative and angry tones it held moments ago.
"Please call me Riku" he replied politely. He had always found it awkward when people addressed him by his last name; it made him feel older than he really was.
"Welcome to The Ceyleon. My name is Mae Ceyleon it's a pleasure to meet you" she held out her hand.
"Its a pleasure to meet you too" he replied out of courtesy, shaking her delicate hand. "Just one moment" she held her index finger out before rushing behind a large oak desk, typed something in the computer then turned to the wall behind her and picked out the appropriate key for his suite."Your room is this way" she offered pointing to one of the corridors on the far left.
"Thanks" he readjusted the strap of his messenger bag over his shoulder – inside was his camera and some extra film.
As they made their way down the corridor he could hear the boy's attempt to calm everyone down, they slowly faded as they ventured deeper into the large estate.
"That was quiet a commotion out there" he commented trying to break the spell of awkward silence.
"I am afraid so," she rubbed her temples, perhaps trying to keep her strong emotions from getting the best of her again, "one of our guests claims to have seen a ghost last night and insists on retelling her story to anyone who will stop and listen. So you've been dutifully warned, avoid he as best you can or for sure she'll talk your ear out."
He coughed into his palm suppressing a laugh, "I'll keep that in mind." This was already turning out to be quite the vacation, and he hadn't even been to his room.
After having followed her down a few more corridors she stopped in front of a white oak door labeled Suite 145 and pulled out the gold key from her pocket. She hesitated for a moment, holding the door knob tightly, she let out a loud sigh trying as eloquently as possible to say what was currently on her mind. "She was staying in this room," she added slowly opening the door and revealing the suite, "I can understand if you wish to change rooms" her voice bracing for disappointment.
"Change rooms?! Not in a million years" he cried as he glanced with fine eyes over the exquisite accommodations. It was truly the best room in the entire place, it was like a small apartment equipped with a small sitting area, full kitchen, a dining room, a large bathroom, and rather spacious bedroom. He didn't need the space, besides he'd only be staying for a couple of days, but he likes the openness of it all. He ventured in, his host not too far behind, passing the sitting room he found the bedroom. It was furnished with dark mahogany, a huge plasma television set opposite a super-king size four poster bed, there was even a fireplace and a set of glass door that led to a porch facing the hills.
"Really?" her eyes wide in disbelief, "are you sure?"
"Yup" he sat on the bed, his hands gently caressing the top of the pearl-colored sheets. "I don't really believe in ghosts" he gave her a reassuring smile.
"Thanks" she said humbly, handing him the keys to the room, "I'll get someone to bring your luggage up right away" a wide smile of relief adorned the Inn keeper's face as she turned and practically skipped down the hall from happiness. He gave a small chuckle at this.
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Cobble stones of every hue of brown and grey paved the streets, every now and then blades of grass would manage to wedge themselves between the stones. Lining those streets were buildings that somehow managed to preserved a sort of humility that had been lost in the modern times, although this should not imply that the people living here were without modern commodities. Vespas, cars, busses, and taxis of almost every color roamed the streets, the teenagers walked about with their ears plugged by white headphones, and most stores and restaurants had their televisions or radios tuned to the latest sports match.
The camera lens contracted quickly causing a small click to ring out into the air, the town seemed perfect and he loved shooting out doors because of the abundance of natural light. Like most of the early photographers he preferred to shoot everyday people or ordinary objects in new ways instead of having anorexic models pose for him.
The afternoon air was thick, the sun overhead, streets bustling with people. He was glad he had decided to go out for a walk, his luggage should be in his room when he returned.
He was almost done with his first role of film when he heard his cellphone ring, pulling it out of his back jeans pocket he couldn't help but groan when he saw the name on the caller id - "Manager." He instinctively wanted to ignore the call but quickly decided against it, it'd be much worse if he put it off.
"What do you want this time Yuna?" he said unenthusiastically. "What do you mean what do I want?!" he held the receiver away from his ear, "you have a huge gallery opening at the end of the week and I come to my office to find a sticky note on my desk saying your on vacation!" She rarely ever got mad much less raise her voice, but being a perfectionist she was unnecessarily stressing out. "Riku were are you!?" she demanded.
"Don't worry about it too much, I'll be back in a couple a days" he almost yawned.
"NO! Not a couple of days! I don't care if you have to mail yourself back, you better be back by tomorrow. Need I remind you it's the galley opening! There's still a lot we need to get done. Do you just want to throw away the career you've been working so hard on for years? Besides you can always go on vacation. Why? Why now of all times?" He could picture her pacing up and down her office, unaware she was starting to rant, obvious signs of stress. She let out a frustrated groan knowing she wasn't going to win an argument with someone as strong headed as Riku. " And to think, I thought you honestly cared." The line went dead, she'd probably slammed down the phone.
Like most photographers he had started out doing freelance work for minor magazine companies, some were outdoors shoots other fashion spreads. Anything to keep his bills paid. He later met Yuna, a slender woman whose eyes seemed to posses patience and kindness beyond most, the friendship seemed so natural. She'd started offering him jobs and introducing him to some important people, she soon hired herself as his manager and help him set up a few galleries to get his name out there, he didn't mind he was actually grateful for the help. He loved photography and unlike most people in the world he was doing something he love and having great success. Every picture he'd taken for the last couple of year had been at someone's request. Each picture had a purpose - to be printed and sold - it had slowly began to chip away at the passion he had for photography when he started. A vacation seemed like the perfect way to relax, to go to a new place and simply capture moments because he wanted to not because someone paid him to do it. It may have not been the right time to bail on his manager but he felt like he'd be institutionalized if he didn't.
Whatever little guilt he felt for having abandoned his manager quickly vanished. He had found himself in a large road that doubled as a market place, both sides of the street were lined with vendors. Some had small tents covering tables of various fruits and vegetables, the vendors passed around samples of their fruits each claiming to be fresher and more delicious than the next stand. The rest of the market place compromised of flower vendors and tables full of small trinkets sold to passing tourist. He bravely ventured through the foot traffic, looking through a lensed eye at the various stands and the people around him.
Before he could even reach the end of the market he had gone through film role number one and two. Everything was vibrant, filled with color and energy and he was just focusing on getting those moments.
"Anymore bags and you'd fall right through the floor" a small group fell into laughter catching Riku's attention. The four men looked like a twisted version of an elder council, sitting on turned over white buckets, a game of domino mid-way. "Say hi to your ma for me" the leader said, stuffing the bills into his pocket and handing over the last plastic bag almost sending down the boy's arm to the floor from it's sheer weight. "Thanks, will do" he would have probably waved good-bye but right now the small copper-haired was trying to balance the twenty-some bags that he currently had clench around either hand. The kid looked around nineteen maybe twenty, he put on a brave face and walked as normal as one could with two-ton bags bursting at the seams with raw vegetables and fruits.
"Are you planning to feed an army?" Riku joked catching the boy by surprise, he looked mildly confused for a moment "Your Riku, I'm sorry, I mean Mr. Rainhart" he looked a little embarrassed for the small blunder, momentarily having forgotten formalities.
"Mr.? You make it sound like I'm fifty, I'm only twenty-two" he said amused "just call me Riku." He instinctively took out his hand to shake the other's but retracted it realizing this would be impossible through so many bags. "Here let me help you out" swinging the camera strap around his neck he took a few bags out of the boys hands.
"I'm Sora" he smiled revealing a beautiful set of ivory teeth. It was dazzling, and Riku had to fight from staring at the angelic features. "Uh, I thought you guys got your food delivered, I mean isn't that how it works with most Inn's?" he asked looking down at the plastic bags. "Yeah, we usually do, but this is for a top-secret birthday feast. So please don't say anything to anyone" despite them fighting their way through a small crowd Riku could see the puppy-eye look Sora was giving him, a cute pout on his lips."Your secret safe with me" he added reassuringly.
"So this is the last of your errands or is there more?" emerald eyes inquired.
"Nope. That was the last bag." A sea of bodies threatened to carry away the brunette, Riku quickly seized the other's hand to ensure they wouldn't be separated. "We'll take a shortcut through here" Sora lead the way past a pottery stand into an alley. The thin strip was lined with small restaurants and bakeries, the smell of warm food filled Riku's nostrils making him aware of how hungry he was. His breakfast had included the small plane meal and a snack-size bag of chips, it wouldn't be bad idea to stop for a late lunch and he now had someone to share the meal with. His suggestion was about to formulate, Sora momentarily interrupting his thoughts. "We can probably hail a cab from there" his plan crashed and burned before it was voiced. The alley had opened up, a less busy street greeted them. Both made their way onto an intersection, fingers still interlaced tightly, plastic bags bumping into each other awkwardly. The brunette stepped closer to the curb, expertly letting out a whistle to hail a taxi.
These weren't the New York taxis you see on television. This particular one was painted bottom half white, top half mint, a cliché-checkerboard strip separating either color. Black-bold letters on the passenger side announced the rates and the company's name. The vehicle's engine roared like a grouchy lion defending it's territory before slowing and stopping a few feet ahead of them. Sora ran a little urging his new friend to hurry up as well before the driver changed his mind. The trunk door popped open, hands releasing as each dumped the plastic bags into it's velvet blue belly before boarding.
Inside the smell of "ocean breeze" (as provided by the turquoise pine tree,) gasoline, and sweat was overpowering. The cheap, dark blue leather crunched underneath their weight as they entered.
He could see the drivers tanned, hairy hands tightly clutching the wheel, his mold green eyes looking at his customers through the newly adjusted mirror. He asked what Riku assumed to be "we're to?" but it was in some language foreign to his own. Sora leaned forward to give the driver the address and some additional information in the same foreign tongue, settling down besides Riku as the car pulled away to joined the pace of the surrounding traffic.
"By the way thanks" the younger one began, a faint trace of a smile lightened his face.
"I needed the exercise, besides I was on my way back as --"
"Not about that. I mean I am grateful for the help with the bags too but I meant thanks for taking the room," he clarified, "my mom has worked so hard to keep the Inn and now that reporter's been talking about ghost trying to scare our guests off. I though maybe she'd scare you off too."
He muffled a snicker "I don't really believe in ghost, besides how scary can they be when they're holding a fishing pole. Now had it been a harpoon I would have been a little worried."
"I guess your right" he laughed, and then sighed.
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"Sora! Sora!" his mother came into the room with a worried expression. He quickly looked in the mirror, adjusted his collar a little and scanned the rest to make sure he looked presentable. He rarely went out or for that matter wore casual clothes. "There you are" she gave a little sigh of relief "where were you?"
"I kind of got caught up with one of the guest, she wanted to know how to get movies on her TV" he lied. After arriving at the Inn, him and Riku had gone to through the back entrance and into the kitchen. The chef had already been informed, quite loyal he'd made room for the groceries in the refrigerator and promised to keep his secret. He'd made some excuse and left Riku in the lobby before rushing towards his room and quickly changing back into his uniform.
"Fine, but right now they need you in the dinning room."
"Aye, Aye captain" he saluted. His mom smiled half-heatedly at his joke. "Are you gonna be okay for the dinner," he studied her expression as he said it, "I'm pretty sure that Suite 129 will be there." The use of the reporter's name had been banned, especially in his mother's presence, so everyone resorted to 'Suite 129' the current hell hole most of the workers avoided. "Don't let her get you upset, beside by this time tomorrow she'll be gone" he rubbed her shoulder trying to sound optimistic.
"You're right" she made a face and changed the subject "besides if you don't go the ghostly fisher man might pay you a visit" she held her arms out, a bad impression of Frankenstein, walking with stiff legs towards him.
"Yeah, I better get going then" he said through laughs.
Almost daily Sora would help prepare the ballroom, setting everything up so that breakfast, lunch and dinner would look perfectly for the guest. When the meals began and the guest would trickle in he'd help the waiters out. His favorite time was dinner, every night at 8:00pm his father use to play the grand piano the ballroom housed. It was beautiful the way his fingers expertly danced over the keys to produce melodies that would fill any bird green with envy. By the time he was seven, he'd learned a few of his dad's favorite song and now it almost seemed natural that after his father's death he'd be the one replace him on the piano.
"Hey Sora" a blond waved as he entered the ballroom. The boy was slightly taller than him, wearing a similar uniform, an empty platter hung on his left hand.
"Hey Tidus, do you guys need help with the tables?" he offered, taking a minute to scan the area and see where he'd be needed most. It seemed most of the room was already well into their meal, the early-birds would probably be ordering desert soon.
"So what'd you tell your mom?" he ignored the question. "You know lying is unhealthy" he teased.
"Yeah and hanging around you is too" he stuck out his tongue. "Fuck you" the blond retorted, "anyway, we already served most of the tables. Now it's just making sure they all get their refills and desserts. Although...." his voice trailed off.
"Yeah?" Sora eyed him suspiciously. Tidus was a great person and an excellent waiter, although that's not to say he wasn't without flaws. He would flirt shamelessly with the cute girls, and would slack off if left to his own devices.
"Go play a sappy, romantic song yeah?" he ran a hand through his blond hair "I think the girl at table twelve wants me."
He glanced in to see who the poor girl was tonight, she was pretty he had to admit. She had an aristocratic air about her, she wore a frilly dark green dress. Her burgundy hair in heavy curls flowed past her shoulders. Her parents looked rich and stuck up. "Good luck with that" he rolled his eyes, "but I don't think any 'sappy' music will help your case" he said leaving the blond's side and heading towards the front of the room. "Your just jealous" he vaguely caught the words.
He pushed back the stool underneath the piano and took a seat. Sliding open the wooden shell to reveal the keys, he let out a small sigh. His fingertips slowly caressed the cold ivory recalling the sound of each note. Music sheets weren't necessary, by now all the songs had been committed to memory. He situated his fingers over the appropriate keys, the beginnings of Moonlight Sonata filling the room, it seemed appropriate since tonight there was a full moon out.
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I hope you'll be able to join us for dinner in the ballroom. It all starts at 7:00pm.
Love,
Mae Ceyleon
ps. You'll find all your luggage has arrive, if you need help with anything else feel free to call the front desk.
On the back of the small index card was a map giving him directions from his room to the ballroom. Tossing it onto the night stand, next to his camera. From the foot of his bed he could see the familiar set of bags in the middle of the room. Opening the larger one he pulled out a clean set of clothes to change into.
Following the map was pretty simple, and it helped since he could hear the faint melody of the piano and cacophony of silverware and conversations as he approached his destination.
"You made it" Mae herself was at the door greeting the guest, making sure each found a table to sit at. She handed him a dark-brown leather folder, in gold the letters 'Menu' elegantly engraved.
"Yeah thanks for the map" he flashed her the note before placing it deep into his pocket.
"No problem" she added politely "so are you dinning by yourself, or you know I could introduce you to some lovely women who'd love to meet your acquaintance" the edges of her lips curling.
"I don't mind eating alone" the last thing he wanted was to sit at a table with strangers trying to pretend he cared about what they had to say.
His table was a small one, it was draped over with a white table cloth accented with canary yellow to match the napkins and the two chairs. A small floral arrangement was placed in the center but not too tall that you couldn't see over it. Most couples had found their way to the dance floor, dancing gracefully at the beat of the classical music. At first he thought the Inn had on staff some professional piano player but he soon realized that it was a familiar face behind the piano. Under the golden light of the chandeliers he could see the young man's healthy pale complexion, his cheeks had a hint of rose, and under the locks of copper hair that fell onto his face were a pair of sparkling cobalt eyes. The most striking thing about his face was its expression of intelligence and enthusiasm. It was moments like this he regretted not having his camera with him. He was so entranced by the young man he'd had little time to see the red-headed reporter coming. She brazenly pulled out the other chair at his table and sat down, commanding his attention.
She straightened out the fabric folds that had gathered on her dark purple dress from sitting in one sweeping motion "You must be Riku Rainhart." She was a thin little creature of twenty-seven, her freshly trimmed hair grazed her shoulders with every movement. "I'm Kairi Laurel" she offered him her hand. The name of course was familiar to him, she was an infamous reporter known for her libelous stories. He made a mental note to be careful of his words.
"Nice to meet you" he shook her hand politely. "So how is it that you know my name?" he asked curiously. Violet eyes focused on the glass of red wine she held in her hand. "I attended one of your galleries, and you my friend are truly an amazing photographer" she raised the glass as if to toast before taking a sip. He was sure this was not her first glass of wine, yet he was amazed that the woman spoke with tolerable cohesiveness.
"Thanks" he added with new found humility.
"The true reason I came over here was not to praise you but rather to inform you," her voice suddenly grew serious and she leaned closer as if to tell him about a government conspiracy in a room full of spies. " I don't think they told you, and I mean I would want to keep it secret too if I were them. Wouldn't want to scare the guest away, you know?"
"If your referring to the ghost I know" he interrupted not wanting to beat around the bush any longer. "Personally I don't believe in such things" his smile slowly faded into ennui.
Her violet eyes grew a little wide with shock but she quickly regained her composure. "Oh that's good" she said emptying her glass which was to soon filled with red wine by a bottle she had brought with her. "I mean I didn't believe in the super natural either, but I feel I have a duty to inform you and my readers about the haunted suite"
"Oh, you're writing a piece for the Inquirer, glad to hear your expanding your horizons" his voice sounded barely interested.
"Trust me as hard as it is to believe I know what I saw that night, and I will never forget it. It was warm night and I was sound asleep when all of a sudden I felt a cold shiver run down my spine, I suddenly had a hard time breathing, my limbs unable to move. Inside a million thoughts panicking, I knew I wasn't alone I could sense an evil presence. I tried to scream but---"
"Pardon the interruption but there is an important package that's arrived for you Ms. Laurel" The young brunette was no longer at the piano, and Riku had been busy trying to come up with an excuse to leave he hadn't realize the music had stopped. "Would you be as kind as to go to the front desk and sign for it?" he asked eloquently.
The reporter's face twisted towards the one that dared interrupt her narrative, Sora gave her that half-smile of his which had probably won him dozens of arguments. She gripped her half-full glass of wine, turned to her companion and in a surprisingly tender tone excused herself, it was an important package after all she reasoned.
The photographer looked up at his savior, simply happy that he had been spared listening to a story he'd already overheard.
Plopping down over the now current empty chair he looked at his friend "that's one debt repaid" he added pleased at himself.
"What do you mean?" Riku couldn't help but eye him suspiciously.
"Who delivers packages this late at night?" he asked rhetorically, hoping his friend would catch on "you helped me out with the bags this afternoon so I lied about the package and spared you from insanity," both chuckled.
"Won't she be furious?"
The younger boy shrugged "she's downed most of the bottle of wine by now. I doubt she'd be able to find the front desk."
"By the way that was really beautiful, I didn't know you played the piano" ocean-green eyes commented.
Sora rubbed the back of his neck, slightly embarrassed, "it's not too hard, if you want I could teach you a song or two?" He didn't wait for a respond, seizing the photographer's hand, leading him to the grand piano. Riku's hand felt warm against his, he kept his gaze forwards in an attempt to hide the blush that was forming over his cheeks.
They both took a seat over the rectangular stool, elbows rubbing slightly. "Place your fingers over these keys" the younger one laid out Riku's hand over a set of keys "and you'll play this tune." Smooth fingers pressed the keys rhythmically, setting out the pattern for Riku. "Ready?" The silver-haired nodded in reply.
Sora kept to the right side, soft tones resonating under his touch. Riku following suit, his pattern underlining the main melody.
"See that wasn't too hard" Sora commented after their song concluded.
"Well that's because I have a great teacher" he breathed lovingly into Sora's ear "How about I play this one just for you." Aqua eyes focused on keys, music notes warm, swishing happily in the air. The beat started slow, like a lullaby, before quickening and settling back down like a musical roller coaster, high and low notes marrying harmoniously.
"I thought you didn't play the piano" Sora stammered, amazed at the ease in which the other composed the complicated notes.
"I never said that, you just assumed I didn't" the edges of his lips curled as his fingers, with great dexterity, continued to dance over the keys.
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Well that's pretty much it for the first chapter, so if you have any comments (good or bad) please feel free to review.
