A/N: Hey guys! This is my first story on here! I did have another one, but I going to revamp it a little later, so…YAY! The nerves are killing me! Okay, not really. Oh well. Hope you enjoy!
Rating: M for later chapters, and some cursing
Summery: Sora wasn't looking for a relationship, but when he meets his soul mate, how will he handle his own devastating secret? It all leads to the secret, wonderful last summer.
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts or the characters… sadly (sobs hysterically)
...
October 15, 2009
To start this thing out, I guess honesty is the best policy. The only reason I'm writing in this… journal of sorts is because Mrs. Rakshasi (1) was nice enough to buy the two hundred and some page notebook and the… neon pink fountain pen with the decorative feathers at the end. Don't ask why it's pink, or feathery for that matter. I'm starting to think she's suffering from dementia or something… yeah. So here I am, with nothing to do but write this journal and watch soap operas. Hurray for me. 'Who knows who will pick this up and read it. It might change their life.' Yeah, right… but I guess she has a point, in a weird, twisted way. I guess this could substitute for my Will… no, not really. No one would want anything of mine, I'm sure of that. It's all crap.
Time nowadays hasn't mattered much for me, it's just a blurred vestige of what it used to be in my peripheral vision. But every day, there's a slot of time between my check-ins, a few hours where I'm left to my own devises. I make sure I'm completely alone and open the small window beside my bed. Luckily they haven't taken the bug screens out yet and locked up the windows for winter. I sit on the edge of my bed and revel in the fresh air.
It's gotten colder by the day, but every once in a while, I can still feel the muggy heat of summer lingering in the wind. It makes me smile. I can still feel the warm sand under my feet, the stickiness of my sweat-drenched shirt. The memories have coalesced in my mind to form a hazy, beautiful mass of… something truly wonderful. Yeah, the last summer had been the best one of my seventeen years…
...
"Oh come on, Sora!"
I grumbled, but didn't move from my position by her Jeep. Sighing with a playful pout, Kairi ran back over to me to grab my hand and drag me to the beach. When my naked feet connected with the white-hot sand, I immediately ran for the water and thoroughly submerged my poor feet in the freezing liquid. I wanted to kill her. I truly did. Her and her sandal-clad feet.
She giggled behind her hand as she approached, carrying 'supplies', as she liked to call them, under her arm. She placed the blanket close to the water and propped the large umbrella beside it. Placing the cooler behind her, she plopped down and ushered me over. I mumbled under my breath one more time before long jumping to the blanket. She laughed at me again as I sat next to her.
"Wow, Sora, you really are a crackup!" I frowned deeply as her fit grew worse. I pinched the bridge of my nose and tried to figure out how I had gotten myself into this.
I had simply been minding my own business, sleeping peacefully, when my door flew into my wall, making a loud bang. I snapped out of sleep only to be dragged off my bed and into the hallway. She smiled innocently at me and shoved a pair of blue shorts in my face.
"Put this on and I'll meet you out here," she said with a sickly sweet smile. The smile itself should have raised a red flag, but I was still somewhat asleep. I took the shorts from her, freeing her hands so she could push me back into my room and slam the door behind me. I had just shaken my head. Everyone who knew Kairi was aware, and quite wary, of her rather… forceful disposition. You just couldn't say no to her without walking away with a few bruises to commemorate the encounter. But I loved her anyway.
I had barely put on the shorts when, for the second in the span of five minutes, she burst into my room. She nodded at me with a sly smile when she saw the trunks on me, grabbed my hand and we flew down the stairs and out the front door. I was flung onto the passenger side door as Kairi skipped to the driver's side.
"Come on, Sor, we gots places to be!"
I sighed and opened the door of the rusty yellow Jeep. I hated when she talked like that, but I didn't comment as I slid in and she floored it.
That was another thing I hated. Kairi didn't drive, oh no, she drag raced. Half the time I was waiting for her to join NASCAR and be done with it already, but sadly, she didn't. So I was the one stuck with her insane driving.
We sped down main street and took Bastion Road out to Destiny Beach. I nearly flipped my lid when I saw the sign. She had drug me out of bed, nearly gave me two heart attacks, and was driving like a mad woman so I would go swimming with her! My dearest, insufferable Kairi had done it again.
She parked in the rapidly filling parking lot and hopped out of the car.
And now here I was.
Her fit died down and she smiled up at me.
"I'm doing this because you need to relax and get out of the house." She said, using that secretive girly intuition thingy to know exactly what I was thinking. I sighed.
"You do realize that school ended just last week, right?"
She nodded slowly.
"Of course I do… but if I allow you to wall yourself up now, how will I get you out and about later?"
I groaned.
"That, my dear, is the five million dollar question."
She giggled at me and stretched. She stood and held out a hand for me. "Let's go swim."
I shook my head.
She groaned and stamped her foot. "Party pooper."
It was her turn to shake her head. She grabbed the hem of her purple sundress and yanked it off, revealing her lithe frame bared in a scanty, bright orange and yellow bikini. It was a head-turner all right… but for all the wrong reasons.
I didn't even see her move, but suddenly my t-shirt was being tugged over my head and thrown onto the blanket. She grabbed my arm and hauled me over to the water. She stopped just as we reached the deep end and hooked my left arm over her shoulder. I was about to ask what she was doing when I was flipped over her back and into the sea. I came up sputtering and coughing out salt water.
"What the hell was that!" I screamed at the laughing Kairi.
"I've been taking Judo lessons." She struck a fighting posse. "Why, you likey?"
"No, not necessarily. It's just that I was thrown over your shoulder and would like to know how that happened." I stood slowly and paused for a moment before rushing her. She flitted back to the edge of the waves as I grabbed her arm and tried to throw her as she did to me. She must have dug her heels into the sand or something… at least, that's what I convinced myself to believe at the time. She laughed and turned the hold so that she was dragging me back into the water. She let go and dove under. I circled, looking in the water to make sure she didn't pull me under.
I briefly looked up from my defense and froze.
The sun stood half-mast, silhouetting a tall, bald man, who was staring at me. I silently groaned. It was just my luck to get the attention of a pedophile. I cursed my rotten luck. The man turned away from me and started setting up an umbrella. He laid down a blanket and sat in the shade. I gasped. He wasn't bald at all. No, his hair was platinum. So platinum it was silver. It took my breath away, as did those bright and thoughtful aquamarine eyes.
And he was staring at me again.
He was handsome with his full lips and arrogant Roman nose and chiseled jaw… and I was blabbering like a schoolgirl in my head. I didn't fully understand my attraction to the man, but as I stared at him, something in my chest shifted and slid home. I knew I had to talk to him, somehow, I just knew. I opened my mouth and moved closer to the sand when something cold hit the back of my head and drenched my spiky brown hair.
I turned to see Kairi giggling and backing away quickly.
"You're not getting away that easy," I mumbled, following after her. We sloshed through the water for a while before Kairi dove under and I followed, dragging her back up to the surface. With both of us hysterically laughing we began our long-winded water fight.
It was hours before we stopped, hindered by our rumbling stomachs. We walked up the beach to our blanket, arm in arm. I cast a quick glance over to the mystery man, but his towel and persons were missing. I suddenly felt like crying. I had wanted so badly to talk to him. It felt like I had missed something important.
Kairi sat down and picked out a club sandwich from the cooler. She tugged on my shirt, brows puckered in worry. I smiled at her and sat down as well, demolishing my own club that she held out to me…but I couldn't shake the feeling of unhappiness. After another hour Kairi and I drove back to town… nearly hitting three pedestrians and almost getting into a fender-bender on the way.
She dropped me off at my house, calling that she would see me tomorrow. I didn't answer, just waved over my shoulder as I walked through the front door. Mom was there to greet me. She had made my favorite, tacos, for dinner. I told her that I was whooped and headed to bed. She smiled and ruffled my hair before walking back to the kitchen.
I took a quick shower before flopping on my bed. I wasn't tired at all, I just didn't want to be around anyone at the moment. The whole situation with the mystery man was still bugging me. So with really nothing better to do, I looked around my room, even though my eyes were getting heavier by the second.
My room hadn't changed since I was twelve. The walls were still the same powder blue and my closet overflowing with clothing and other things. My small desk was very much cluttered with old homework and other pieces of torn, chewed and dusty papers. Above the desk was the large corkboard that I put pictures of friends, family and other things.
I sighed and rolled over, closing my eyes. I was surprised to feel the dreamy, weightlessness of sleep so soon. And so, I drifted off, with the vision of aquamarine behind my eyes.
...
The rest of the week was very much like Monday; Kairi banging through the house, dragging me out of bed, and taking me 'sightseeing'. When she told me that I snorted and said that there wasn't much to see. That earned me a slap on the head.
"Of course there are things to see… like the ever-perfect me!" She twirled her wine colored hair on her index finger, with a goofy smile. I laughed and she punched my arm.
We went shopping, out to lunch, and on Friday, antiquing. Yes, that's right… antiquing. I gave her a funky look when we pulled into parking lot.
"Oh, calm down," she said, waving her hand in my face. "Ma said she wanted a new painting, or something along those lines… so you'll just have to deal." We hopped out of the truck and stood by the front door.
"Why did I have to come with you again?" I asked rubbing my eyes.
"Because you love me." She pushed me towards the door. "Now get that butt a-movin'."
It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Kairi bought two painting for her mother, one of a young women knitting, ("Don't ask, she just likes that kinda stuff." Kairi grimaced) and a second one of a field of wild flowers. I have to admit, I rather liked the second one.
I didn't buy anything for myself, or Mom. She has this weird complex when it comes to surprise gifts. But there were many nice things, like old vases and oil lamps, even an old writing desk with ink spots still on the roughened surface. It even came with an ink well and quills.
"You need that, Sor. I can see you now," Kairi's voice went dreamy and she stared off into space. I flicked her shoulder and ushered her forward.
She paid for the paintings and we ran to the car and quickly turned it on. We sighed in relief and reveled in the air-conditioning. Obviously, the people that built the shop didn't have their customers in mind when they failed to install an air-conditioning unit.
Kairi made as if the switch gears, but hesitated.
She sighed and turned to look at me. Her blue eyes were strangely haunted.
She cleared her throat.
"Um…ho- how've you… ya know…been?"
Time in the car seemed to stop as the hamsters that ran my brain began to jog.
"Fine, why?"
"Well, um," she rubbed the back of her neck absently. "Well, you know… it's just." My mind seemed to be working double time just to catch up to her thought process.
"Kairi? What's wrong?"
Her breath hitched as I rested my hand on her shoulder.
"How are the treatments going?"
For a second, I couldn't breath. I took my hand off her shoulder, and moved back in my seat. I couldn't seem to look her in the eyes.
"They start next week. I'll have them every other day in the morning." I flinched from the cold monotone of my voice.
"Oh."
We didn't look at each other as we sat in the silent car. Neither of us could say a word.
Her throat cleared. And in a rough voice she asked, "Can I stay at your house tonight?"
"Yeah."
She nodded and switched gears. We remained quiet as Kairi drove, surprisingly, by the speed limit. We reached my house and slowly got out of the Jeep, walking up the porch steps and into the foyer. Kairi went straight for the sitting room while I headed for the kitchen and got two Sprites from the fridge.
When I reached the sitting room I saw Kairi curled up on the couch and flipping through the On-Demand movies. I sat to her left and handed her the can of Sprite. She clicked on a movie and took the can from me.
We watched the movie in relative silence as it progressed. It was a real shoot-'em-up-because-he-killed-my-wife sort of movie. She always had been a big fan of this genre of cinema. Myself? Well, I will forever be a fan of any rom-com.
The only inclination I had that Kairi was about to say something was the uncomfortable shift of her shoulders.
"Um… I'm sorry about earlier. Ya know, with the whole-"
I cut her off quickly.
"It's fine, you didn't know. I won't hold it against you."
She laughed quietly, but stopped short and licked her lips nervously.
"C-can I ask you something?" Her voice was hesitant.
"Sure, what's up?"
I turned to look at her. She was staring into my eyes, seemingly to look for something.
"Will you go out with me?"
My mind and body froze with surprise.
"Um… what?"
She didn't answer, but moved forward, bringing her lips closer to mine. I unfroze and turned at the last minute. Her expectant lips landed on my cheek. Her felt her eyelashes flutter for a moment before moving back.
For the second time I turned to look at her.
She sat on her legs, hands between her knees. Her eyebrows pinched and her lips parted.
"What's wrong?"
I stayed silent, and my silence was obviously more painful of a rejection then words would ever be.
She sucked in a breath and quickly turned so I couldn't see her eyes. I moved to comfort her, but she batted my hand away. Her face was red and her smile was strained when she turned back to me.
"I'm sorry. That was stupid. Of course you're not looking for a relationship right now. Silly me." I opened my mouth to explain to her why I said no, but she waved her hand and stood.
She chuckled humorlessly and moved to stand under the alcove. She turned and rested her hand on the wall. The light from the kitchen haloed around her.
"I'll talk to you later, okay?" And she was gone. I heard the distant snap of the closing door.
I stood and shuffled over to the window, slitting the curtains so I could peek outside.
Kairi stood with her back to me, but you could tell her hands covered her face by the scrunched posture of her shoulders.
She shook her head, got into the Jeep and drove off. I sighed and clicked off the movie. I stood in the center of the sitting room for a long time, just thinking.
Kairi and I had first met in the fourth grade. She had transferred from somewhere on the mainland. The teacher had pulled her up to the front of the class and asked her to tell a little about herself. You could see the fear in her eyes as she stammered and blushed. My friends, Hayner, Roxas, Pence and I sat next to each other and we all agreed that we would invite her to sit with us during lunch.
"I near cried with relief!" Kairi had later told me about our proposition. She got along well with the last member of our little gang, Olette, who was in a different class. And tt didn't take her long to get accustomed to the new environment. She quickly became everyone's friend and was the little entertainer of the group. She told us stories about her old town and friends, even family stories that had everyone cracking up.
But as time moved on, she gravitated more towards me. We were best friends and did everything together, which, in the eighth grade brought about the rumors. Everyone besides our group of friends thought that we were going out. Kairi herself did nothing to quell the whispers. In fact, in a strange way, she seemed to enjoy it.
I groaned and slapped my forehead. That was because she liked me! God, I could be so stupid sometimes. But it made me wonder how long she had this crush on me.
That's a good question, but you were too stupid to realize it before…so who knows? I growled and hit my head again.
Okay, so letting your inner voice get to you is so not a healthy sign.
I sighed and headed upstairs. After a quick shower I lay on my bed and stared at my ceiling, but only seeing Mr. Silver ( I had to give mystery man a name). I groaned and rolled over. I was getting a little creeped at my obsession with him. But it seemed involuntary to think of him… it came naturally. Wondering about his name, or what he's doing or if he was going to my school in the fall.
I really wanted to see him again. I feel asleep and dreamed that we had been dancing in an old-timey ball, him in a dashing tuxedo, and me in a floor length, pure white ball gown.
...
Destiny Islands is a relatively small patch of land just outside of Hollow Bastion, Massachusetts, connected only by one bridge, oddly named Disney Bridge.
Destiny Islands could be classified as a tourist trap, with its many shops and 'authentic wares'. I've lived here my whole life, and I can tell you… the only thing I ever liked were my friends and the sunsets.
So, there I was, running down Main Street trying to find an obscure little coffee shop. After walking on eggshells all weekend waiting for the call from Kairi, she finally called on Sunday and told me to meet her at Sonny's, the new café that opened in town, at ten. I left the house at eight- forty, and at nine-thirty, I still can't find the stupid place.
"Trust me, they have great cinnamon rolls!" Yeah, right. I'll know that only when I get there, if I ever find it!
I growled and ran a hand absently through my spikes, looking up and down the road. The streets were already crowded, but the people gave you a wide berth, especially if you had a murdering glint in your eyes.
I came close to throwing my cell phone at a passing car when I saw a bright green sign. 'Sonny's Café', it read.
I sighed with relief and hissed out a 'Yesssss!' of triumph. A few people passing by looked at me oddly and continued on with a relatively faster gait.
I looked both ways before J walking across the road and up to the door to Sonny's. A bell above the door jingled as I entered.
"Hi, welcome to Sonny's, what can I get for you today?" The voice was smooth and deep, almost a lullaby in its cadence.
"Um, yeah, I'll have a cup of black coffee and a cinnamon roll." I had been looking up at the order board but looked down when I heard the hiss of the coffee machine… and froze completely. Mr. Silver placed a white mug and paper encased roll in front of me. All I could see was aquamarine framed by silver. I hadn't realized how long his hair actually was until that moment. His bangs rested on eyelids and the rest fell past his shoulders, almost to the middle of his back. His full lips quirked into a small smile that made my heart flutter dangerously.
"That will be seven dollars, please." I quickly fished in my back pocket for my wallet. I gave a small shout of glee when my fingertips grazed the worn leather.
I yank it out and handed him a five and two ones. Our fingers touched as the money was exchanged, and I nearly fainted.
I was shaking when I finally sat down at an empty table to wait for Kairi. I took a sip off my coffee and looked over the rim of the cup to see him. He was shaking with laugher, one long-fingered hand covering those perfectly kissable lips, and I shook my head. I shouldn't have been thinking about that sort of thing… but I couldn't stop myself.
To keep my mouth occupied, I took a bite of the cinnamon roll… and died in ecstasy. It was absolutely sinful in its goodness. I know, I sound like a girl right now, but I don't care, it was just too good.
It didn't take me long to finish it and I sighed in contentment.
"Hey, Riku, go help Tiff in back, ya hear?" My ears perk up and I slyly looked out of my peripheral vision to see Mr. Silver stand straight and walk through the small door behind him.
I turned back to stare at my coffee.
Riku.
The man I'm obsessed with is named Riku.
"Whatcha thinkin' about?" I nearly fell out of my chair as Kairi seated herself opposite me, staring unabashed. I waved off the question.
"Don't worry about it."
I hesitated before going on.
"How've you been?"
She shrugged. "Fine. Not much going on… but I did want to apologize for Friday."
I opened my mouth but she put a finger over my lips.
"No, really. At a time like this, you wouldn't want to deal with a cloying girlfriend." She smiled slightly and patted my hand.
Conversation came easily after that. We talked about every little thing we could. I could tell she was scrambling to repair any damage done. I didn't bother to tell her that she didn't have to.
We were talking heatedly about the pros and cons of belly-button rings when her pants vibrated. She jumped and pulled out her cell, grimacing. She flipped it open and nodded to herself, seeming to have confirmed something.
She rested her elbow on the table and grunted out 'yeses' and 'I can take care of that laters'.
After a deep sigh she hung up.
"Sorry, Sor, I gotta get going. Ma's having a fit." She tucked the phone away and kissed my cheek quickly before skipping out the door with a wave. I sighed and rested my head on my arm. I was quite content to just stay there forever. I mean, hell. I was a few feet away from the male Aphrodite, there were plenty of scrumptious cinnamon rolls to eat… and did I mention Riku?
Beautiful, tall, wonderful-
"Hi."
I jumped and sat up straight as quickly as I could, only to be met by bright aquamarine.
Riku shifted in the chair Kairi had recently vacated, his long hair draped behind the back of the seat and arms crossed naturally.
After a moment of staring I squeaked out a 'Hi' as well.
His lips quirked up into a small smile as he introduced himself.
"I'm Riku, it's nice to meet you."
"You, too," I replied before catching myself and shaking my head.
"Sora. I'm Sora."
Riku's smile widens and he leans forward to rest his crossed arms on the table.
"I know this is kind of sudden, I'm new here and I could really use a tour guide around town. You seem to be a fun guy, so would you mind-"
"Yes!" I said loudly, cutting him off. "I would love to!"
Riku chuckled and scratched his cheek with a thumb.
"Thanks. This is really going to help me out, and it's always nice to make a new friend."
I blushed deeply before grabbing a napkin and furiously scribbling my phone number.
"This is my number. Call whenever you need me."
I set the napkin in his outstretched hand and he stands up.
"Back to work," is his explanation as he slowly backed away and positioned himself behind the counter.
…...
I'm thoroughly giddy as I skipped home, a huge smile plastered on my face. I thought about turning and heading over to Kairi's to fall at her feet and praise her in all her quirky glory, but stopped when I saw the hulking shadow sitting on the front porch of my house.
...
Alright guys and gals! There it is, the first chapter… sweet lordy it's really long… totally didn't mean for that to happen O.o
Oh well!
And if you found any, sorry for the typos.
Remember!: Reviews are my Oreos and milk… and free cookies for every one! ;)