Sonoro: Duet
Aqua threw her long elegant arms around Xion's small body and brought her into a tight hug. "Sis! I missed you so much!" her voice chimed with sisterly affection. Aqua gave Xion a little squeeze, burying her nose into Aqua's heavily perfumed V-neck. Aqua always wore that lily scented perfume. She would spray it in moderation, only giving a quick spurt to her chest and then one to each wrist, but today she must have just poured the whole bottle on her.
Xion gave Aqua a feeble smile. "I missed you, too," she half-heartedly replied. Xion reluctantly brought up her arms to wrap around Aqua. The small girl rested her head against her older sister's plump breasts, her somber eyes gazed off into the distance.
Aqua pulled away to get a good look at Xion's face. She traced her long nimble finger under her eyes, poking at the purple bags. She pouted. "Did you get enough sleep last night?"
Xion looked down. "I was up all night trying to figure out the WiFi password," she said through her teeth.
Her nose wrinkled as Aqua snorted. "Oh, Xion," she suddenly laughed. "I'll make you some breakfast." She tightly squeezed Xion's wrist and lead her over to the dining room table. "What would you like?" Her voice sounded shaky and her words rushed, almost as they were forced out.
Xion raised an eyebrow at her sister. She's acting kinda weird? Xion slowly blinked at Aqua. "Ba-con," she said slowly, enunciating the two syllables. She sat down at the table as Aqua lightly danced over to the fridge over to the fridge.
"Just bacon?" she inquired.
Xion tapped her index fingers together. "Toast?"
Aqua leaned on the fridge door. "And?"
Xion shrugged. "That's all, I guess."
Aqua pulled at a large package of thick cut bacon from the fridge and reached her leg around the door, swiftly shutting it behind her. She strode toward the stove, her slippered feet gliding against the polished tile. Xion rubbed the swollen purple bags under her bloodshot eyes.
"Aqua, what did you do yesterday?" Xion asked curiously.
Aqua banged the large metal pan against the top on the stove. She flicked the switch and a blue flame ignited underneath the pan. "Oh, nothing important," she said casually. She started humming an indistinguishable tune as she pulled out three large slices of bacon and threw them into the pan. It took a few moments before the bacon started hissing and crackling as grease seeped out.
Xion observed Aqua as Aqua danced around in the kitchen. She hopped over to the bread container and pulled out two piece of fluffy white bread out and placed them in the toaster, pushing down the lever. Aqua appeared more vibrant than usual. Xion could have sworn that Aqua was glowing. Xion sighed and slumped her shoulders. "Aqua, have you ever experienced something that you hated so much that you were disgusted with it, but just one thing… you just experience that one thing… and… and it changes everything you ever thought about it before? Because of that one thing, you find yourself staying up all night contemplating your life."
"Um… no? No. I haven't." Her eyebrows eyebrows knitted close together in thought as she grabbed the golden pieces of toasts out of the toaster. "At least…I don't think so. Why?"
Xion massaged her heavy eyelids with her index finger and thumb. "Oh, just a hypothetical question."
Aqua tightened her lips and a narrowed her eyes. "Okay then…" She went back to the sizzling bacon that spat up grease. She flicked the knob off, extinguishing the flame and grabbed a spatula from near the stove. She scooped up the crispy brown bacon from the still hissing greasy and plopped it onto a paper plate. "Here you go, Lil' Sis. Just the way you like it!" She placed the small breakfast in front of Xion. "Three slices of extra crispy bacon and buttered toast and-" Aqua placed an apple juice box in front of Xion "- apple juice!" She bent down and gave her sister on quick peck in her greasy messy hair on the top of her head.
Xion picked up a hot slice of stiff bacon and broke off the tip. She placed it on the tip of her tongue, the heat burning the sensitive buds. She rolled her tongue into her mouth and crushed the bacon between her molars. "Thank you, Big Sis," Xion said as she swallowed.
Aqua grabbed a box of half eaten Chinese food from the fridge. "Don't mention it." She took her seat across the table from Xion.
Xion stabbed the bendy straw into her juice box and took a long needed sip. "You're not going to make yourself any breakfast?"
Aqua shook her head as she slowly chewed a mouthful of cold noodles. "Nah, my feet are starting hurt."
Xion took another bite of her bacon, her mouth salivating at the smell. "Have you been doing too much ballet?"
"Psh, I can never do too much ballet."
Xion lifted her arm up awkwardly as she tried adjusting her loose bra strap that stubbornly refused to stay in place. She brought her arm down too quickly and hit her fist against her plate. "Oh, shit!" A piece of toast slid off and fell on the floor as the plate tipped over.
Aqua didn't bother looking up from her food. "Language."
Xion rolled her eyes and slid out of her chair. She dropped down on her knees and looked under the table for her toast. She slid her hand over to her piece of toast that laid a few inches under the table, wondering how it bounced that much under. Her eyes darted upward to catch a glance at Aqua's uncovered foot. Xion felt her stomach twist seeing the scarred tissue all over her foot and her disproportionate toes with blisters on the joints that stuck out. Her big toe was missing half a its toe nail and what was left was completely black . Her ankle was slightly puffy.
"It's a huge price to pay for success, but I did it anyway," Aqua suddenly said.
"Ah!" Xion jumped up, slamming her head against the table. She fell back, grabbing at her aching head. Fuck!
Aqua pushed herself up from her chair and walked over to Xion. She crouched down in front of her. "It's a shame that the most important part of a performer is also their most vulnerable part." She took Xion's small hands into her large ones. "Why don't you go get freshened up and go out today? You seemed very distracted today and going to the park might put you at ease."
"I have no choice in the matter, do I?"
Aqua smiled lovingly at Xion. "Nope!"
Xion shoved her hands into her shorts' small pockets as she kicked a pebble across the sidewalk. "I don't know why I have to do this," Xion grumbled bitterly. "I can't believe she threw me out of the house!" she yelled, throwing her arms up in the air. "Why have you forsaken me, Aqua?" She shook her fists to the sky in angry. She threw her arms back down, her hands still balled up. She left out a sigh. Okay Xion. Just think back to that one night… that one song. Xion felt a chill run up through her body, making her left out a small giggle. The tingle began to spread throughout her body as her body felt light instantly. She felt light headed and her vision began to blur. Xion clutched at her chest, slightly panting from the overwhelming feeling that's deep inside of her at her core. Even though she has not heard it since the other night, she still remembers the sensation perfectly. It's just like an orgasm.
Xion inhaled deeply to recover from that moment. She glanced upward to see the large sign that hung at the entrance of the park. "I wonder if I'll ever meet that fiddler on the roof," she thought out loud. Xion tugged on her sleeveless mint green button up chiffon as she continued to think about that night. He must be famous around here. If I can meet him, maybe… just maybe seeing him will give me confidence to play again. Xion continued to stroll down the pathway that was shaded by the short palm trees with large leaves. She then suddenly stopped.
There he was. He stood look up at the long stairs that lead up to the performance centered with his violin. Xion cowered in the shade, intimidated by his stature. His head was held up high and his chest sticking out. His gaze was focused and unblinking as he stared up. Xion felt her cheeks burn looking at him from afar. Come on, Xion. She slapped both her cheeks. You got this! Xion held her breath and marched towards him. Just be optimistic!
He continued to stare up, his eyes dull and distance, almost like he was lost in thought. Xion looked up to where he was looking. "It's really beautiful, isn't it?" she quietly squeaked.
Color returned to eyes as his pupil tightened. He looked over at Xion, who was still looking at the top. "Yeah, I always wanted to perform there." His voice was deep and smooth with hint of mysteriousness.
"Well, don't give up! If you work hard enough, you'll be able to perform there one day." Xion nervously laughed at her own advice.
He let out a deep chuckle and gave her a cocky smirk. "What do you mean one day? I could perform there any time. Do you know who I am?"
Xion stared wide-eyed at the stranger to her side. "Eh?" She was totally clueless.
"Riku."
"Ri-ku?" Xion sounded out the name, sorting through her brain to recall this man.
"I'm a very well known violinist," he said rudely as if Xion offended him.
Xion frowned at him. "I can tell you're famous because of your attitude. Even then, I can tell you're really talented. I heard you playing the other night."
Riku reached his hand out and grabbed the railing. "It was just practice. I haven't really gotten down yet."
Xion exhaled through her nostrils from frustration.
"Come, follow me." Riku began climbing up the stairs with Xion following behind.
"So where'd you move from?" Xion asked, trying to start a conversation.
"We- Mom and I- used to live on the other side of the island," he answered without hesitation. "The doctor said the move would be good for her. She's been in poor health recently and has been confined to a wheelchair for years now."
"Any siblings?"
Riku shook his head. They were a third of the ways there. "Just me. My mom couldn't have anymore kids. Actually, she wasn't suppose to have kids, but here I am."
"And you play the violin?"
"Since I was 4. My dad wanted me to follow in his footsteps despite my mom's protests."
Xion started taking deep breathes. She was already getting winded from the climb up. "And how old are you?"
"I'm 23."
"Cool, I'm 21." Xion tried her best to not sound tired already. "So that means you've been playing for 19 years, correct?"
Riku nodded. He glanced over his shoulder at Xion. "Same violin, too. And I wouldn't give it up for the world." They were about half way up now. "Okay, since you asked me a bunch of questions, it's my turn to ask you."
"Shoot," Xion panted.
"I heard you were a very talented pianist."
Xion stopped. "Who told you that?!"
Riku smirked at her. "Some guy named Axel, but anyways I was hoping I would meet you someday."
Xion's eyes widened and her mouth slightly opened in surprise. Meet… me. Her heart began to race and her cheeks burned. Axel. I don't know if I should thank you or punch you.
"I wanted to ask you… will you perform with me?"
Xion's heart dropped. "No!" she yelled out. She turned around.
Riku was taken aback at her response. "No? What do you mean no?! Do you have any idea how long I've been searching for a pianist?!"
Xion stomped down the steps. "Well, keep searching you asshat!"
Riku huffed up with anger. "Well, well, I'm not taking no as an answer!" He shouted back as he matched after her.
"There's no way you'll follow me home!" she yelled at him.
"I live right next to you!"
"You won't be able to get inside!" she retorted back.
"Watch me!" he challenged her.
"Bite me!" she hissed at him.
They continued down the way, screaming back and forth at each other, trading blows with each word. It caught the attention of the entire neighborhood they walked down. Both were stubborn and relentless in their own ways.
"Screw you!" Xion spat at Riku as she tried to slam the door in his face.
He caught the door and easily pushed it open despite Xion's protest. "I'm not going to stop until you say yes!"
"Well fu-"
"Hello, Xion!" Aqua interrupted her. "I see you made friends with the new kid."
"Um-" Xion said softly.
"Yes, friends. Xion wanted to show me something," Riku explained to Aqua.
Xion jabbed Riku in his side. "Actually I-"
Aqua grabbed both of their arms and yanked them inside. "That sounds like a great idea. Go on Xion, show him that thing." She gave her a little Xion.
"Eh!?" Xion's entire face was turned red. She was left speechless.
Riku pushed Xion along in the hallway. "Which room is it?"
Aqua pointed upwards. "Upstairs. It says 'Xion' on the door."
"Thanks." Riku scooped Xion up and carried her bridal style up to her room.
"I'm telling you no for a reason," Xion warned him once she gained her composure.
Riku swung open Xion's door and plopped her down on her bed. He walked over to her piano and ripped off the sheet. "How long has this been on here?" He ran his finger along the cracked wood of the piano. "Poor thing." He lifted up the cover on the keys and pressed a few in succession. He frowned. "Out of tuned."
"I told you! My piano is out of tuned and it'll take forever to get the money for a guy to come out to tune it." Xion sneered at Riku's misfortune.
Just then Aqua threw open the door and pushed in a keyboard already on the stand. "I had a feeling you were talking about the piano so I grabbed this from the garage since that old thing is out of practice."
Xion's jaw dropped as Riku sneered back at her. "Thank you, you're so kind."
"Just trying to be helpful." Aqua grabbed the door knob and closed the door, leaving them alone.
"Okay, let's get started." Riku powered on the keyboard and pressed a few keys to check. "Yup, still works. Come on and show me what you got."
Xion reluctantly got up from her bed and walked over to the keyboard, dragging her feet as she went. She stood behind it, staring helplessly at the black and white keys. She slowly raised her hand up and pressed one key.
"Is that it?"
Xion lowered her head. She felt her body begin to compulse. She grabbed the keyboard and chucked it over, scaring Riku in the process. She dropped down to her knees, sobbing. "I can't play anymore," she cried.
Riku stared at her, his mouth hanging open in shock. He glanced around the room, finding the empty trophy shelves hanging on the walls. He looked down with pity at the sobbing girl. "I didn't know."
"I can't play anymore… I've tried. All I heard is ugliness. Not even you can help me." Xion covered her mouth to conceal the loud sobs.
Riku crouched down in front of Xion and grabbed her wrist. "Do you know who I am? I'm Riku, the famous violinist, and I will help you Xion! I'm sure of it."
Sora, Kairi, I'm one step closer to finally reuniting with you guys.
