Untitled.
A/N: I'll tell you this beforehand: according to the manga version of KH, Kairi came to Destiny Islands from another world – probably/possibly Hollow Bastion. And I'm referencing this from the manga because I can't remember KH1 anymore. :B I guess you can just google "kingdom hearts manga scans" and find the translations there if you didn't already buy it. Props to the people who translated it though. But, hey, they have the Chain of Memories manga too, so har har.
Also – since Destiny Islands is a tropical place, I'm going to assume that it only has two seasons: summer and rainy season. -coughphilippinescough-
Pronunciations:
Harano:
HAH-rah-noh
Rin: Rih-n.
Rekkenji: reh-KEHN-jee.
Disclaimer:I don't own Kingdom Hearts II, Final Fantasy nor its characters. And "The nearness of you" is actually a song by Norah Jones. >.>
Claimer: I own the made-up last names and original characters.
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Chapter 2 - The Nearness of You
Harano Seirya fell back and landed on the couch, her legs sprawled and her arm rested on her forehead. Work was hard and sometimes depressing, especially in a hospital. She was tired of the consistent complaining of patients and their relatives. She was tired of deaths and tired of breaking the sad news to whom it may concern. I need sleep… she thought to herself. Before she was able to drift off into a deep slumber, the front door opened. Groaning, Harano let out inaudible words.
"It's me, Hara" said a familiar voice. Footsteps entered the kitchen area with sounds of objects being placed on the table. "I knew you'd you be home! Are you hungry? I brought you some fruits and I made soup." Hara opened her eyes to see the back of a young woman with wavy brown, tied up hair.
"Rin…" Harano mumbled, "What in God's name are you doing here…?"
"Well, I had a free day today, as you know," she chuckled, walking over to Hara on the couch with a bowl of soup and a glass of water, "And I decided to go grocery shopping. Then I decided to make soup! …But well, I forgot that no one was home to eat it." She smiled innocently and almost dim-wittedly. Hara got up, smoothed out her short, silver hair and took the glass of water, downing it within seconds. "My, aren't we thirsty?"
"Yeah… and tired," she said, trying to get a point across, although Rin didn't seem to notice at all. Hara looked at the bowl of soup. "It's too hot to have soup," she complained, "And why shouldn't you eat it yourself?"
"Because I'm not hungry! And rainy season is coming soon so the heat might go away. I know you like Clam Chowder – even though the soup's already cold," she replied sheepishly. Hara sighed and took the bowl of soup in her lap. Rin giggled, "I wonder if Sora and Riku enjoyed their first day of school. It's been so long for them!"
"Oh yeah… where are those two anyway?" Hara wondered as she scooped the thick cream up.
"Sora called the house from school and said they were going to the island with Kairi and some friends. Oh, Sora's such a good boy! And Kairi is such a good girl! I hope they get married," she beamed.
"Heh. Don't expect too much. He's still just a boy," Hara said, "And so it Riku." Rin rested her head on the small living room table with a pensive look.
"You know, Riku looks very mature now. He's beginning to take on Rekkenji's appearance." Hara slammed the bowl of soup on the table, making Rin jump.
"I don't wanna hear his name!" Hara snapped harshly with a glare and a clenched fist.
"But you loved Rekkenji," Rin replied calmly, "Doesn't it make you happy that your son is growing up looking like him?" There was a pause before Hara thought of an answer.
"It's… a touchy subject!" She looked away, embarrassed at her sudden rage and unusual mood. But Rin only smiled.
"Looks like someone's grumpy today!" she playfully scolded. Hara stared back at her, dumbfounded. Rin tilted her head, "What is it?" she asked.
"I just got mad at you."
"Oh!" Rin said as if she hadn't got on to that, "Why, yes you did. Did I forget to apologize?"
Hara stared at her, but Rin only stared back with a confused smile.
"You… air-head," Hara said, "With adolescence like that, its no wonder Sora turned out to be a good kid. I was worried he'd turn too naïve because of you. Or spoiled because you dote on him too much. Oh well, at least he's not a brat."
"Ah, yes! He's very capable of himself!" she replied proudly, totally forgetting about what they were talking about before, "If he wasn't, he wouldn't have never been able to come back home… And, you spilled Clam Chowder on the table." Hara looked down to see globs of soup on her table. She moaned in annoyance.
"You decided to tell me that now? You're hopeless," she mumbled, getting up to get a paper towel. "And… sorry about that."
"Don't apologize! It's your table" Rin chimed reassuringly. Hara sighed and didn't even bother telling Rin what she was apologizing for. "Anyway, they'll be home in an hour or so. I'll go now and wait for Sora to come home." She got up and made her way to the door. Before she went out, Hara called her.
"Hey! Thanks for the… uh. Foods," she said. Rin nodded with a wide cheesy smile, bowed politely and left.
After Hara wiped the soup off the table, she lied down on the couch again and brought relief to her tense shoulders. Finally, I can sleep now… she thought. As if on cue, the phone rang.
"…GRAH." Hara threw the pillow at the phone, knocking it off the table and onto the floor.
- --- - --- - --- - --- -
Splinters few in every direction as the two wooden swords were whacked against each other. Riku and Sora stood face-to-face, grinning with their weapons crossed as Selphie, Tidus, Wakka and Kairi cheered. Kana only watched but enjoyed every minute of seeing Riku in combat for the first time. They broke away from each other; Riku sprinted at Sora for a stab, but Sora dodged and countered the attack. Sora tried to slash across his chest, but Riku jump away before it hit him. Sora jolted at Riku with both hand on the hilt and tried to hit him with a vertical slash above the head. Riku held his sword up above his face and blocked Sora's hit. Their gazes were locked and each grinned.
"Give up! This spar is over!" Riku spat.
"No way!" Sora said, his voice just above a whisper, "I'M the keyblade's chosen wielder!" They broke away from each other and stood in defense stance. Riku couldn't hold his in laughter.
"HAHAHA! That's the corniest thing I've ever heard! You're lucky no one else heard that!" He boomed with hilarity as his stance began to leave him wide opened. Sora dashed at him to take a hit, but within a blink of an eye he was thrown onto the ground with the tip of Riku's wooden sword at his neck. Sora was astonished. "You see? Already over."
"WOOOH!" Selphie cheered.
"Lookin' sharp, man!" Wakka hollered to Riku. Riku dropped his wood to the side and gave a thumbs up. Kana blushed and looked away, but unable to wipe the smile on her face for his victory. Kairi got up and went over to Sora to help him up.
"Wow, you totally lost," Kairi said. Sora smiled back at her.
"Ha, shut up! It's not like you wouldn't be able to beat me!" Sora boasted.
"You wouldn't hit a girl, would you?" Kairi said, nudging Sora. He nudged her back lightly, and together they started to laugh.
"Aww!" Tidus and Selphie chorused. Kana chuckled. Suddenly, she remembered about homework and took a look at her watch, adjusting her glasses. It was 4:34.
"Uh, hey. It's getting late," Kana said.
"Yeah, man. We should get goin'. I got a game this weekend to practice for," Wakka winked, "You too, Tidus."
"I'm game. Riku, you commin'?" Tidus asked.
"Nah."
"I'll go! I have a test to study for tomorrow," Selphie pouted. Kana anxiously bit her lip about the thought of another all-nighter just to study. Tidus glanced at her, who knew about her 'top-student' reputation, half-expecting the girl to come along too. Kana however didn't want to go back with the people she wasn't very familiar with. Knowing this, Kairi went up to Tidus and patted him on the shoulder.
"Bye, Tidus! And Wakka, and Selphie!" She said, rather suddenly. The three looked at her strangely and said their goodbyes, telling Kana is was nice meeting her. As they sailed off back to the mainland, Kairi turned to Kana, "I know you have studies to worry about and I think we're delaying you," she said.
"Oh, no! It's… fine." She looked at Riku, who was picked up the wooden swords and started dusting them off.
"I'm going to put these away," he said, and he walked off into the distance. Sora grunted with his arms crossed.
"Aw, what's wrong? Still upset from the loss?" Kairi teased.
"I can't believe he beat me! I thought I totally surpassed him," Sora complained. Kairi stepped over to him and pinched his cheek as he winced in pain, "Owww!"
"You are so predictable!" she giggled, finally letting go. Sora hug-tackled her as she yelped with laughter, trying to get loose from his grip. Kana was amused, but decided to excuse herself to leave them alone.
"I'm going to the bathroom," she said.
Kana admired the beauty of the island, finding it more picturesque up close rather than seeing it from afar. Finally she got a chance to explore the island on her own – she even saw flowers that she's never seen before. Coming across a strange tree that was bent to the side, she looked at the star-shaped fruit hanging below the leaves. Paopu fruit! She thought, as she recalled the legend. If two people share a paopu fruit, their destinies will be intertwined, she dreamed. Before she began to really enjoy the moment, she realized that she was lost.
"Agh…" she grumbled, and then caught notice of a ladder leading up to some kind of tree house. Assuming she'd see more of the island in a higher view, she climbed it, hoping she'd figure out her location. Suddenly, she froze. Riku was up here, gazing out of the window.
She didn't know what to do, whether to say something or to leave him. All she could do was stare at his perfection: the curve of his muscles, his long silver hair and icy eyes. But wasn't staring considered rude? Even so, she couldn't turn away.
"They look so happy together," he said.
"H-huh?"
"Here, take a look." Riku looked at her for the first time and gestured her to come. Flustered, Kana clumsily got up on the tree house to look at where Riku was looking. There, she saw Kairi and Sora talking, laughing and romping. They seemed like the happiest people on earth. Watching them interact even made Kana happy.
"It's like they're in their own world," Kana agreed. They listened to the two and their rings of laughter as silence only build up between them. "Um, you…" Kana began, trying to break the ice, "…knew I was watching?"
"Yeah. The ladder's kind of creaky."
"Oh."
Kana shifted uncomfortably. She felt small standing next to him but his towering presence only made things so much better. She was afraid to look at him, but peeked anyway – his eyes were fixated on Sora and Kairi and seemed to have some sort of longing. Kana tried to figure out exactly what might be on his mind, but before she thought of something he turned to her. She darted her eyes away, then Riku chuckled.
"W-what?" Kana stuttered.
"You were staring again. Do you do that often?" Kana shyly looked back at him; he had a gentle smile on his face. Her heartbeat started pump faster and her face turned red. She never knew Riku could be so modest, for the Riku she remembered was competitive, especially with Sora, and even a little overconfident. "Come on, let's go," he said, making his way toward the ladder, "After you."
"Th-thanks," she replied.
- --- - --- - --- - --- -
Kana plopped herself on her bed. She was dressed in shorts and a tank top with her hair tied up, and didn't bother to put her glasses away. It was already 12AM, which was late by her standards, and she had just finished her studies. She sighed.
"Riku…" she muttered. A part of her was still in disbelief of their return. The thought of what happened today with Riku and her gave her a warm, fuzzy feeling and almost made her giddy. But feelings were just feelings that needed to be controlled, right? Crushes shouldn't always be taken seriously, and how could Riku ever feel the same towards her? "Still. I can't believe it…" she said aloud, "I think I have a chance to talk to him more now…"
She tucked herself, put her glasses away and switched the light off, calling it a day. After all of the studying that was accomplished, only Riku remained in her head and into her dreams.
A/N: Okay, so. Corny ending, but I guess it works.
So I haven't updated in a long time! That is if anyone out there is actually waiting for any updates. I had a hard time with this chapter because of this semi-writer's block (that I'm still kind of working on). School also kept getting in the way. I'm also pretty lazy and I sleep a lot. Yeah, yeah, excuses, excuses. I wonder if my writing's improved at all. Anyway, I'll try to update sooner.
And that sparring part. I suck at describing that kidn of stuff, so please don't kill me. TT.TT
Please, please, please, please, PLEEAAASE review!
I need your opinions!
–desperate- X.x