I don't own Kingdom Hearts, but if I did, Sora would totally be all mine...haha. Story is mostly original, but it is inspired by Vampire Knight. I hope that you guys enjoy. Reviews and criticism would be appreciated.
NOTE: The first section of every chapter is usually told from Kairi's POV, whereas the rest is in the third person. "Stained by Sin" is only the working title. Hopefully something better will come to me.
Summery: Sora disappeared from Kairi's life for unknown reasons. Vampires bring them together again, but it also tears them apart. Blood, lust, fear, secrets, friendships, reunions, and promises change their lives.
2. UNEXPLAINED RECOGNITION
~Kotobani Naranai Kimochi~
Lying awake in my bed, I wondered what the other two were doing at the Sora okay? And was Riku getting along with him the way they had a year ago? Were they talking about me at the moment? If so, what are they saying about me? Would Riku talk kindly about me? Or would he mention all the stupid mistakes I've been making? What would Sora think if he heard all that stuff?
What does Sora think about me? My cheeks turned hot at this thought and I pulled my blue polka-dotted blanket up to cover my face.
What does Sora think of me? He must like me or else he wouldn't have…
I touched my lips, remembering the joy that rose inside me when his lips were pressed against mine. My cheeks flushed even brighter in the darkness of my room. Sleep slowly started to fill my eyes as I pushed the memory away.
We've been friends since we were little. That's all we're going to ever be, no matter how much I desire for more.
With a loud yawn, I closed my eyes as I slid the blanket below my chin, embracing a good night's sleep in my arms.
-----
Fully awake and unscathed from last night's run-in with a Renegade, Kairi bounced along the sidewalk, a light air in each step as she swung her school bag back and forth. When she reached Riku's house, she knocked on the door in a specialized pattern for that Thursday morning and then unlocked the door with her copy of his house key.
"You're sure in a great mood this morning," Riku commented from the kitchen table as she walked in.
"Really?" She took her normal seat on the stool next to the kitchen island as she watched Riku finish his breakfast. "I can't quite figure out why I'm so happy."
"Isn't it because Sora's back?" he smartly answered, getting up and placing his dirty dishes in the sink and running water over them.
Kairi felt her cheeks grow warm again at the mention of Sora's name. Refraining from holding her hands to her face, she questioned Riku, "How did things go last night? Is Sora okay?"
Riku paused, the soapy sponge suspended in air as he recalled that short conflict between Sora and Professor Kaito that he witnessed last night before he was quickly dismissed from the room.
-----
"What are you doing back Sora?" Prof. Kaito asked. "Did you find out who did it?"
"…No," was the only answer Sora came up with after an extended period of silence.
"Then why are you back?" Kaito replied, his voice hinting at slight hysteria. "I thought you weren't to return unless you find out who murdered Kairo!"
"I know," Sora responded. He appeared like a small child getting scolded. His fist trembled slightly at his side, a sign of holding back his fear.
"Then why did you come back?!" Kaito shot back, his chest rising and dropping heavily.
"I have a good reason, but…"
"But what?" His glasses were sliding off the bridge of his nose, balancing precariously between smashing into tiny pieces on the ground and remaining safely on his nose.
Sora turned to Riku, his fist vibrating with a bit more strength. "Riku, I think it would best if you left."
"But, Sora, I can't…"
"Riku," Kaito interrupted, adjusting his glasses, "this matter doesn't concern you. Please, take your leave."
Knowing better than to fight a losing battle, Riku headed for the door, hoping to hear more of the conversation. But the other two remained silent and Riku closed the door behind him in disappointment.
-----
"Riku? Riku, are you okay?" Kairi's voice broke his thoughts, pulling him back to the present.
"Sorry," he apologized, finishing up the plate he had in hand and running it under water. "I spaced out for a bit, but yeah, Sora seemed okay."
"Do you think that he's gonna come to school with us?"
"Dunno," he answered, drying his hands on a towel. He glanced over at the clock on the stove. "It's 7:10 already?" He grabbed his school supplies and slid on his shoes. "We better get going before they get too far ahead of us."
------
"Why are you guys so late?" Kaito asked as Kairi and Riku arrived at the clinic.
"Sorry daddy," Kairi answered. "Won't happen again."
"You're feeling okay, right?" The professor questioned, doing a visual check over of his daughter. "You didn't get hurt last night, did you?"
"Daddy, I'm fine," she declared, wriggling out of her father's grip. "But I was wondering if Sora was okay."
Her father looked startled for a second, but quickly regained his composure. "Sora, huh? He's checked out okay as of last night."
"Is he going to go to school with us?" she asked eagerly.
Hesitant to answer, Kaito remained silent, causing Kairi's hopes started to fall.
"Of course I'm coming to school with you guys," Sora answered, emerging from the shadows of the hallway. "I've been gone for a whole year, there's no way I'm letting the two of you go ahead without me. Gotta make sure that you both aren't doing something behind my back."
"What do you mean?" both Kairi and Riku asked, completely unsure what Sora was getting at.
Walking over to Kairi, Sora drew her face close to his, placing his fingertips on her lips. "You didn't forget did you, Kairi?" he said in a low and husky voice not like himself.
His breath warm against her cheek and neck, Kairi struggled to find an answer. All she could think of was whether Sora was going to kiss her again or not.
"Sora," Kaito said, breaking the intense atmosphere, "I would advise you to rethink your actions."
Letting go of Kairi, Sora turned to the professor, knowing that it was his actions toward Kairi that he was reprimanding. "I'm sorry. I was stepping out of line. I'll return to my room."
After recovering herself, Kairi stepped forward. "Daddy, you can't make Sora stay here!"
"Don't worry about me," Sora stated, seeming like himself again.
"Listen to him honey," her father said. "And he'll go with you tomorrow to get his classes scheduled. I just want Sora to rest for a day before doing anything."
"Promise?"
"I promise," Kaito agreed before turning to Sora. "I want to discuss a few things with you, Sora."
"We should get going," Riku declared, slinging his school bag over his shoulder. "Naminé and the rest are waiting for us to escort them to school."
-----
"You know we're going to be late," Roxas remarked as Riku and Kairi walked out the side doors to meet a group of three.
"Did something happen to you guys?" Naminé asked as the pair approached them.
"Sorry," Kairi apologized. "I had to find out if Sora was coming to school with us today. I kinda held us up."
"What are you talking about?" Roxas replied. "Sora's not here. I know that for a fact."
"Well, you must be talking about a different Sora," Riku retaliated. "The Sora we know is here. At the research center."
"I'm telling you," Roxas fought back, "That the Sora I know is the same one you know. And he couldn't possibly be alive."
"You two," Kairi intervened, "stop arguing!"
"Tell me then," Riku argued, "how do you even know Sora in the first place?"
"I'm going to get minor sunburn from being out here too long," Demyx declared, distracting the arguing pair. Everybody stared at him, to which he responded, "I've got to keep my appearance up for my adoring fans."
"We should really get going," Naminé added, hoping to relieve the tension from the situation.
"Well, then, let's go!" Kairi shouted, taking Naminé's hand and running toward the direction of the school. Demyx, holding his books over his head to shield from the sunlight, followed at a brisk pace. That left Riku behind with Roxas.
"After you," Riku offered, holding steady in the staring competition with Roxas.
"Thanks," Roxas replied coldly. "But you know," his voice softened, "Sora's gone. He was killed…right in front of my eyes." His choked up voice revealed a side of sympathy that Riku had never expected to see from him.
"You trying to make me drop my guard so you can make a meal of my blood?" Riku commented walking pass Roxas. "That won't work on me, vampire."
"Fine," Roxas answered, reverting to his usual self, "you can play it that way if you like, but I know what I saw."
-----
"You guys need to calm down and return to your classes!" Kairi shouted, standing in front of Demyx with her arms out as a barrier. "There's nothing to crowd around for!"
Even though the homeroom bell rang, the school girls stood by the entrance, waiting eagerly for their idols. Once the group had reached the school gates, it was mass hysteria as the girls pushed toward them, screaming "Demyx!", "Roxas!", and the occasional "Riku!"
"They're still here even when they should be in class," Riku observed, marching in front of the group to create a path wide enough to walk through. For some strange reason, all the girls seemed to be intimidated by Riku's presence.
"G'morning, my darling little fans," Demyx said, waving to the girls as he passed through the front doors into the high school. "I hope that you stay well."
As the doors closed behind them, Kairi let out a sigh of relief. "Why does this happen every morning?"
"Naminé," Roxas called, reaching out to her, "are you okay?" He touched her shoulder, a rare expression of tenderness on his face that he only seemed to show toward Naminé.
"I'm okay," she answered, putting her hand on top of his. "But thanks for worrying about me."
"They all look so healthy," Demyx commented wistfully. "Can't I just have one girl…?"
"Demyx-senpai," Kairi reprimanded, "what do you think you're saying?"
"I'd be careful of what you're saying, Demyx," Axel stated, appearing suddenly behind Demyx from the shadows. "You know what Kaito's cooperation plan is."
"Axel-sama!" Demyx declared, turning around quickly and dropping his head in a bow. "I apologize for stepping out of line."
"Just don't let it happen again," Axel answered coolly, proceeding down the hallways. "Kairi just let me know whenever one of these little vampires steps out of line. I'll deal with it much more harshly next time."
"Thank you Axel-sama," she said, bowing her head in thanks as the teacher walked away.
"Way to almost blow our secret," Roxas stated when Axel was out of hearing range.
"It honestly was just a joke," Demyx responded, starting down the hallway in the opposite direction. "Anyway, I'm heading to class before I'm further penalized than I already am for being late."
"Same here," Riku said, heading in the opposite direction of Demyx. "I suggest that the rest of you get going."
"You don't need to tell me that," Roxas remarked, walking in the same direction of Axel. Naminé quickly joined his side, since the two of them had the same first class.
Kairi watched the group separate, contemplating on what her real purpose at this school was. She and Riku were to keep a watch over them, making sure that no human uncovered Demyx's, Roxas', Naminé's, and Axel's true nature: that they were vampires. Her father believed that vampires could coexist with humans in everyday situations, so he asked Axel to find subject to test his hypothesis. Which explains why Kairi and Riku escorted them to and from school every day.
They were also to make sure that the vampires didn't attempt to bite anyone. It's not that hard a job, but Demyx had been tempted several times before because of the girls throwing themselves at him. Who was to blame them? It seemed to be a natural trait for vampires to be naturally drop-dead gorgeous.
The first class warning bell rang for the second time, warning Kairi to race down the hall to in order to reach her first class in time.
-----
"Roxas-senpai?" a thin quivering voice called out as Roxas walked down a outdoor hallway, which was lined with pillars on both sides, after final class let out. "Will you please accept this?"
Turning around, Roxas saw one of the school girls, his junior by a few years, holding out a letter to him, her head bowed down. Great…another love letter… he thought to himself when he noticed the red heart sticker sealing the envelope. Taking the letter from her hands, he tore it in half several times, and dropped the scraps to the floor. "No," he said bluntly.
The girl's eyes trembled as the pieces of her heart fluttered to the floor, waiting for someone to trample all over them. Without a whimper, she turned and walked away, breaking into a run some distance away.
"You must be enjoying yourself," Roxas spoke loudly, eyeing the adjacent pillar. "That must be what you think my true nature is. Right, Riku?"
"On the contrary," Riku answered, stepping into view and leaning against the column, "I'm quite proud because you didn't try to drink that girl's blood."
"You're not as snide as you usually are," Roxas observed, leaning on the pillar on the side opposite Riku, creating a brick barrier between them. "Is something on your mind?"
"As a matter of fact, yeah," he replied, shifting his weight onto the other leg. "You said that you know Sora. Was that before or after he left a year ago?"
"So, you know what happened to him. Did you figure it out or did he tell you?" Roxas waited for a response, but as he knew, he didn't receive one. "I actually knew Sora before what happened."
"Do you know when it happened to him?" Riku asked.
"I knew a few days before he left…before Professor Kaito sent him off to find out who killed Kairo," he replied. "But before you say anything, I didn't have anything to do with it."
"Who's Kairo?"
"You don't know?" Roxas scoffed. "Kairo was Kaito's wife, thus making her Kairi's mother."
"Do you know who did it?"
"If I did, Sora wouldn't have been sent away," his tone softened again, "he wouldn't have gotten killed…"
"Sora was never killed," Riku retorted. "But I didn't want to ask while Kairi was around…"
"Were you afraid of hurting her feelings? She's got something for him…too bad he's gone now…"
"You say that Sora was killed and you saw it. How was he killed and by whom?"
Axel and Naminé appeared in the courtyard, waving Roxas over. Pushing himself up off the wall, Roxas, with his hands in his pockets, walked over to Riku first, telling him, "Wouldn't you like to know?" and then left, joining his kind.
-----
"Tadaima," Kairi announced, walking into her father's clinic with Demyx, whom she was guarding over as he practiced with his band in the school auditorium. Even though it isn't a public practice, the school girls somehow found their way in.
"I thought today's practice fell short of our normal standards," Demyx stated, placing his guitar beside him as he sunk into a worn chair. "That isn't good for our performance in a few days." Not only does Demyx play the guitar, he also writes the songs and sings lead vocals.
"I thought you guys sounded just fine," Kairi replied, peering down the hallways, looking for someone.
"What are you talking about?" Demyx argued. "I couldn't even hear myself over all the screaming."
"Well, maybe you should tell the girls to leave the auditorium so you can practice," she answered. "Where's Riku? He's supposed to tell me if we've got to work tonight."
"You're finally home, Kairi," her father shouted, walking out of one of the rooms reserved for vampires.
"Yeah, I'm home," she answered, wondering whose room her father was just in. That's not Axel-sama's room? His is in the other hallway. Roxas' and Naminé's are on the other side of that hallway. Demyx's is near Axel-sama's. We don't have any other resident vampires than them, right?
"Kairi, I want you to brief Sora on what you and Riku do during your job," the professor told her as he closed the door. "I don't want him sent out there without knowing how to protect himself…or you for that matter," he added ominously.
"You mean that Sora's coming with me and Riku on patrol tonight?" she said, unsure whether to be happy or worried about this.
"Tomorrow night," he replied. "I want you to rest tonight."
"Does that mean Sora's also joining our team?"
He stopped walking, a few feet away from Kairi. "I'm not sure. I guess you can say that tomorrow's sort of a trial test."
-----
"G'morning Sora," Kairi greeted, walking to her usual morning stop with Riku. "How are you feeling this morning?"
"Mornin' Riku, Kairi," he answered, adjusting his uniform's necktie. "I'm fine, thanks."
"You sure you're ready to face the sunlight?" Riku questioned, glancing out the glass doors at the bright morning sun.
"I think I'll manage," Sora replied. "I took the medications that Professor recommended."
"You mean those tablets?"
"Yeah, those," he answered, looking away as if he was ashamed for having to take the tablets.
"What are you guys talking about?" Kairi asked, looking at them. "Are you sick, Sora?"
"I'll leave you two be, in case someone decides to get something off their chest…" Riku said, looking at the two of them.
Worried, Kairi thought Riku was speaking about her. She knew he knew, or at least suspected, her feelings toward Sora. It would've been great to tell Sora how she felt, but was now the right time?
Sora, the one whom Riku was actually speaking to, looked at him. He wasn't ready to tell Kairi what was eating away at him to hide from her because it was safer to keep her in the dark, or away from it.
"…but don't take long. We've got to escort the others to school," Riku added as he closed the door.
The two faced each other, both saying the other's name at the same time.
"Sora, I want to…"
"Kairi, there's something you need to know," Sora interrupted, taking her hand in his. "It's the reason why I left a year ago…"
Taking a deep breath, Kairi braced herself. She had always wondered why Sora had taken off so suddenly. Too excited about his return, she never had thought about the reason why he left or came back.
"A couple days before I left," Sora began, "something happened…something horrible. So horrible that your father advised me to leave for your protection."
"My protection?" she questioned.
"My family was targeted and attacked by—"
"SORA!" stopped him from finally telling Kairi as Naminé opened the door. "You're here! I can't believe you're here!"
"Naminé?" Sora called upon hearing a distantly familiar voice. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing!" she answered, hugging Sora tightly around his neck. "Wait till Roxas finds out you're really here!"
"Roxas is here?"
"Yes," she answered, letting go of his neck and dragging him by the wrist out the doors. "Demyx is here too."
Kairi watched as the door closed behind Sora and Naminé. She began to wonder what the relationship between them was. They seem really close, but they're nothing more than friends, right? But they…
"Yo, Kairi!" Demyx called from the open door. "I think that you should really get out here!"
Allowing for her thoughts to figure themselves out, Kairi found Riku restraining Roxas, who was struggling to break free. Sora was sitting on the ground, his hand rubbing the side of his head, and Naminé sitting beside him. From this information, she presumed that Roxas assaulted Sora for some reason she was going to find out.
"Roxas, what did you do that for?" Naminé asked, helping Sora to his feet. "Why did you just punch Sora?"
"That isn't Sora!" he answered, looking vehemently at the boy he didn't want to recognize. "He isn't Sora! Sora is gone…he's gone!"
"Roxas, this is Sora," Demyx stated, "His chemical make-up is the same."
"It isn't him," Roxas argued, struggling less with every passing second. "Sora was killed. I saw it happen…I know it happened."
"We all saw it happen," Naminé consoled him, touching his arm gently, "but we should be happy that he's here with us now."
Sora knelt beside Naminé and told Riku to let Roxas go. Falling to the ground listlessly, Roxas remained on the ground, bent over.
"Roxas, I'm glad that I can see you again," Sora said, offering his hand to help him up. Roxas looked up, anger burning in his eyes. He slapped away the helping hand and got up.
"I still don't believe you," Roxas said as he grabbed his book bag and slung it over his shoulder. "I think we should get going. We're already late as it is."
"That's a good idea," Demyx stated, following Roxas toward the school.
Naminé followed as Sora slowly got up on his feet. Kairi stepped beside him. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," he answered, though his tone noted otherwise. "I guess I really don't blame him for not believing me."
"Why?" Kairi asked. "How do you two know each other?"
"Kairi, Sora," Riku called, starting toward the school, "we need to make sure that no one attacks them three."
"Attack?" Sora questioned. "We are going to school, right?"
Kairi and Riku looked at each other, recalling that it was Sora's first day, and smiled.
"You've got a lot to learn when dealing with the vampire business," Riku stated, a smug smirk on his face. "I think I'll enjoy watching this."
"What do you mean?" Sora asked, keeping in pace with his friends as they hurried to catch up.
"You'll find out soon enough," Kairi answered.
-----
Once again, the screaming fan girls were lined along the pathway even though homeroom had begun. Roxas, Demyx, and Naminé waited outside the gate for Sora, Kairi, and Riku.
"It's about time you got here," Roxas coldly said as Riku started into the main grounds of the school.
"Why are you guys waiting out here?" Sora asked Naminé.
"You'll find out soon enough," Kairi answered as she followed Roxas and Demyx inside.
The wild roar that arose when Roxas and Demyx stepped on the school grounds quickly subsided as the new student passed through. All the girls started whispering to each other, their fingers pointed at Sora and their eyes constantly watching him.
"Why are they all here?" Sora asked Kairi in a low whisper. "Why do they keep looking at me like that?"
They were now approaching the school doors. The group of girls had been strangely quiet for the past minutes and didn't make a sound when the doors closed behind the group. Roxas continued to class as the rest of them stopped to converse briefly.
"I guess I'll go with him," Naminé told Sora.
"Okay," Sora replied as she ran off. A look of desolate sorrow was in his eyes as he watched Roxas.
"Sora," Kairi said, "are you okay?"
Quickly recovering, Sora smiled and answered, "Yeah, I'm fine."
"I'm disappointed now," Demyx injected. "My fans…they didn't cheer for me today."
"Get over it," Riku replied, heading for class.
"Whatever," Demyx answered, going to his first class. "I'll see you later Kairi."
"Yeah, I'll see you afterschool." Kairi turned to Sora and gave him directions to the main office. "I would've walked with you there, but I've got to get to class."
"It's okay," he said. "I understand. I'll be able to manage from here."
"Well," she started walking backwards toward her class. "I guess I'll see you later after school."
"See ya later," he called after her.
-----
At his usual after school waiting spot, Roxas paced along the column-lined hallway. Sunlight settled on his honey-colored hair as he paused from his walking. "I know you're there, so…"
Sora stepped out from the shadows, a shy 'you-got-me' smile on his lips. "You always knew when I was around."
Roxas leaned against the pillar. "Problems is…you're not him."
"What makes you say that?" Sora replied, smiling as he leaned on the opposite side of the same pillar as Roxas.
"Because…" Roxas answered stoically, "…I killed you…with my own hands…"
*dramatic music plays* Roxas killed Sora? How could that happen? How will Sora's first night as a Renegade hunter go? And what is this about tablets that Sora has to take? What is he hiding from them? Find out in the next chapter: A False First Taste ~ Akai Tsumi~
For those without much Japanese, tadaima is what people normally say when they come home.
So, please leave reviews!!!
