-Chapter Four-
Shakespeare and Sunsets
Sora laid beneath the shade of the paopu tree, head resting on his arms. His eyelids were shut and his gentle breathing was in rhythm with the breeze. He would have been asleep if not for the squawking seagulls flying overhead or the faint steps of someone approaching. Once again, his nap was foiled, ruined, destroyed, tarnished.
Would it kill me to get some sleep around here?
"Yo," a voice greeted – a male voice.
Sora furrowed his eyebrows a bit, expecting a more soprano-like sound. On the register, the voice was more baritone than anything else. There was a slight hint of bass which easily could be overlooked. Sora shook his head. It wasn't Wakka. Could it be Tidus? Sora looked up, his eyes pinpointing the silver hair and green eyes. Riku. He should have known.
"What do you want?" Irritation was high and the urge to pummel the intruder was tempting. Yet, the sand was quite warm and Sora had already sprawled into a comfortable position. It'd be a waste to get up now.
"I just came to ask about last night." Riku answered. "I heard you were getting busy."
"Last night? What happened last night?" Sora asked, trying to keep a straight face. It was harder than he thought with his mind was being bombarded by images of Kairi. His lip twitched but he bit down on it hard before it erupted into a grin.
"That's what I'm asking you. Why don't you tell me?" There was a slight smirk on Riku's expectant face. "So...?"
"No, it's alright. I'll just keep it to myself," Sora answered. He found it hard to keep a straight face; he was never one to mask his emotions well.
"You didn't get the kiss?"
"…"
Riku's tiny smirk widened into a full blown smile as silence revealed the answer. Sora didn't get the kiss. He chickened out.
"I didn't get it," Sora finally answered, satisfying his friend's premonition. "I got a hug though."
Riku shook his head. "Sorry Sora, hugs don't count for anything."
"I know. You're not supposed to kiss on the first date anyways, right?"
Riku's eye twitched at his blasphemy. That was absurd! Of all the dates he had been on, it had always ended with a kiss. He was the master at running those so-called bases. First base was a kiss and Riku prided himself on stealing multiple bases at the same time. Umpires couldn't keep up with him! He'd be at home plate by now but he wasn't a commitment-type guy.
"Who on earth said that!?"
"Selphie."
"Selphie?" Riku seethed. That girl should have known better! Didn't those romance novels teach her anything? He shook his head in disbelief. Looks like he was going to have to pay his dear friend a visit.
"Hey Riku. Where are you going? I thought we were going fishing?"
"Oh, don't worry about it. Just focus on getting that kiss."
Riku looked down at the sand for a brief moment, collecting his thoughts. Something was going on here. Either Selphie was doing something, or by sheer luck, Sora had some game. He laughed off the latter; Sora wasn't a ladies man.
-KH-
Riku trudged up the street to Selphie's house, his muscular calves bulging out with every step he took up the inclined slope. His gloved hands were balled in a fist, and for added effect, he donned his black robe. He was determined to resolve this blasphemy and pay back Selphie for embarrassing him. It was time to lay down the law!
Riku finally came up to the house and knocked loudly on the door. He waited for a few moments before knocking again, clearly aware that Selphie never answered on the first knock. True to form, the door swung open, the yellow wearing brunette standing across from him.
"Hey Riku!" Selphie greeted. Immediately, she sprung forward to embrace the silver haired hunk that God had sent to her doorstep. However, Riku simply stepped aside and let himself in, leaving the poor girl sprawled out, face down on the doormat.
Riku took a seat on the couch and waited for Selphie to join him. He reclined back, his hands folded neatly in front of him. Propping his feet up on the coffee table, he watched as Selphie plopped herself on the couch right next to him.
"No hug, Riku?" the dejected girl asked. She frowned and Riku could have sworn he saw a tear welling in her eye.
Riku shook his head.
"Can't say I tried," Selphie muttered in defeat, dropping her hands on her lap. "So what can I do you in for? Did Sora send you here so I could get pictures?" She eyed him wantingly, checking him out.
God, he's so HAWT!
Her hands found the zipper to his robe and she slowly unzipped it revealing his white sleeveless vest and blue jeans. Riku just plainly sat there, gently tapping away Selphie's fingers as she sought to undo his vest.
"Um...Selphie?"
"Yes, Riku," the girl answered softly, alluringly. She placed one hand on his chest and cupped his face with her other hand.
"I'd like to keep my vest on if that's alright with you." He punctuated his request with a small smile, the same one he used whenever he wanted something. He wasn't in the mood to take off his clothes again. In fact, that was a memory he'd like to forget.
Selphie dropped her hand placing it one last time on Riku's vest zipper. She teasingly tugged on it and felt a rush of excitement when Riku caught her wrists. He shook his head, warning her. He would bite back if needed. A sensual smile formed on the girl's lips and she moved in closer, their body inches apart. Cat-like, she sprung, arms stretched out ready to clamp down on her prize. But once again, she only drew air and as she found herself falling, feeling a strong tug break her momentum.
Opening her eyes, she found the floor underneath her and an arm coiled around her petite waist. Riku sighed as he helped the girl to her feet, laying her lightly back on the couch. Her arms tightened around his neck and he fought off her advances, using his hip to pin her down.
"Ow, Riku," Selphie purred. "You're rough."
Riku smirked. Grabbing both her hands and using some kind of hold, he bound her. Selphie let out a little yelp. She couldn't move.
"Are you done now?" he asked, his breaths tickling her ear.
Selphie shivered and she turned her head around, nipping for Riku's lips.
"Sorry Selphie but this is strictly business." He spun her around, nudging her into a seat.
What do you think I'm doing? she thought. "Geez, Riku. You end it so fast," the girl moaned as she straightened her dress. "Anyways what can I do for you?"
"Do you know what's going on with Sora?"
"What do you mean? Are he and Kairi going out yet? Where's my camera!? Did they kiss yet?"
"No."
"Oh," Selphie sighed.
Riku shrugged. "You are aware that Sora and I are involved in a game..."
"Yeah. Truth or dare. That is such a kiddie game! Spin the bottle is so much better."
"You know?"
"Yeah. Truth or dare? Ha, Sora told me when he came by a couple days ago. He asked me to help him."
Riku smiled. He got what he wanted to know. Selphie had been helping Sora all along. No wonder.
"Why are you helping him?" he demanded.
"So what if I am? It's all in the name of love and loves has it that Sora and Kairi would make a cute couple."
"You've been saying that since kindergarten."
"It's a skill," Selphie said, gushing with pride. She had an eye for this type of stuff. Who was the one who set up Tidus with Yuna anyways? "Riku?"
The albino haired teen quirked his eyebrows, "What is it?"
"Do you not want Sora and Kairi to get together?" Her voice was more solemn and calm now which was a polar opposite from her usual manner. Riku had remembered seeing this once, the night he turned her down to the dance. What could he say, dances weren't his thing.
"Trust me, I do. That's kind of why I dared him," Riku said with a smile. "The other half was me wanting to win. I know Sora doesn't have the guts to actually approach Kairi and kiss her just like that. It's funny to see him struggle."
"You know, Kairi told me that she's going to watch the sunset with him today."
Riku turned his head towards Selphie in total surprise. They haven't watched the sunset together since they were kids. Personally, Riku hardly joined them but it was a tradition that he knew about. They'd go to the dock and watch the sun sinking below the horizon, streaks of pink, yellow, red, and orange lighting up the sky above them.
"I think today might be the day!" Selphie rejoiced. There were stars in her eyes; the thought of a new budding romance was too good to pass up. She needed to take pictures.
"I don't think so," Riku quipped.
Selphie's enthusiasm crashed at that moment, her eyes ablaze with fire. "What are you talking about? Watching the sunset is so romantic. It's perfect. The binding of their love through the once broken chain of their childhood routine, Shakespeare couldn't have written it any better!"
Selphie sprung to feet, the excitement growing within her. She raced for the camera and after unplugging it, she changed lenses, pulling out her trusty EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM. This bad boy allowed her to take pictures from 1.57 ft. to infinity in crystal clear high definition.
"See ya, Riku! I'm going to get pictures of Sora and Kairi."
Riku sat there, dumbfounded. This girl is crazy! What the heck did Shakespeare have to do with sunsets?
-KH-
Sora took a seat on the wooden pier, his legs dangling off the edge. His reclined back, shifting his weight to his palms to hold him up. It would be dusk soon. He looked around; there was still no sign of the girl yet. Perhaps he had gotten here too early. He sat tight, his uneasiness making him restless. Where is she? Sora ran a hand through his hair. The last time Sora sat here, he was talking to Kairi about taking the raft which he proudly called "The Raft" and leaving the island together. No Riku, no family members, no friends, just them. The memory brought a smile to his face. It was the last time he won a race against Riku. Not only did he get the opportunity to name the raft, he even got to present a paopu fruit to Kairi. Coincidentally, it was also the last time he watched the sunset.
He sighed. After all this time, nothing had changed.
The sound of footsteps knocking on the planks broke his thoughts and he turned around, surprised to find Kairi behind him.
"Aww darn. I wanted to scare you too," the girl whined as she took a seat beside him.
"Sorry, Kairi but sneaking up on me doesn't work anymore." It was true. After fighting Heartless and those slippery Nobodies, Sora had made it a habit to watch his six. His practically had eyes in the back of his head and his spikes served as giant antennas. "Nothing takes me by surprise."
At that moment, Kairi scooted closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder.
Except that. That was a shocker.
Sora instinctively held his breath, fearing any sudden movements would startle her. The last thing he wanted was Kairi to leave his side. He turned his head slightly, catching a glimpse of red hair that hung from his arm. Immediately, his face turned red and he tensed.
"Wow! Look Sora," Kairi pointed out, shattering the tense atmosphere. Sora traced her outstretched arm to the sky and was suddenly captured by Nature's painting. It was absolutely breath taking and Sora found himself unable to exhale. His shoulders relaxed, his worried expression giving way to childlike astonishment.
"Yeah. I've never it this beautiful before," Sora responded. It was the second most beautiful thing he had ever seen - second to the girl beside him, mind you.
-KH-
"I was so right!" a voiced cheered. Excitement swelled in her and she raised her camera to take pictures.
"What are you doing?"
Selphie shrieked as she fell out of the palm tree, the hard ground unable to break her fall. Glancing upwards, she noticed green eyes staring down at her and a smirk that could only belong to one person.
"RIKU!?"
"Shh...keep it down," the teen reprimanded. "They'll hear you!"
Selphie pouted as she stood up and wiped the dust off her behind. Luckily her camera wasn't destroyed and she shoved it into Riku's arms. "Take a look see."
Riku shrugged as he peered at the screen at a picture of Sora and Kairi together. He chuckled at bit, noticing the pink streaks blatantly obvious on his friend's face. It was absolutely pitiful.
"See, I told you that'd make a good couple," Selphie commented as she flashed a victorious smile. "They might be the cutest couple ever."
Riku tossed back the camera, a smug expression on his face. "You have one shot left."
"I know. I didn't think Tuna would take up all my shots."
"Tuna?"
"You know...Tidus and Yuna."
Riku fought to contain his laughter. He fake coughed and tried to clear his throat.
No good.
He exploded into a hysterical fit. That had to be the funniest name ever.
"Hey! Don't laugh," the girl retorted. "For you information, Riku, I have a rather good name for Sora and Kairi."
"Yeah? Does it involve more species of fish?"
"No, unless SoKai is the name of an unidentified swimming object…" She stuck out her tongue, knowing Riku didn't have a comeback for that one. It had taken her 12 years to create and an extra six months to copyright. That's right! SoKai was registered under the Selphie Tilmitt name.
But enought of that for now. There were more important things to take care of. Selphie looked through the lens, her lips curved upwards in a devilish smile. All hell would break loose once she got the picture of their first kiss. Trigger finger twitching over the button, she eagerly waited.
"Done yet?" Riku asked, breaking the girl's concentration.
"Shut up," Selphie answered. Gosh, Riku was getting annoying now. After shooting him a scary face, she turned her attention back to the couple, fighting the urge to use her last exposure. I have to get the shot. She bit her lip to avoid letting a squeal leave her mouth when Kairi looped her arm around Sora's arm and pointed upwards. Apparently a shooting star blazed overhead and Selphie wished they'd get to the kiss already. It wasn't that hard! Another opportunity passed as Kairi playfully slapped Sora, probably for saying something stupid. A playful smile was on the boy's face as a slightly flustered red head chased him around the beach.
Selphie began to grow impatient. All this flirting was killing her, yet she was giddy. Talk about cuteness overload! She was on the verge of erupting; the mushiness building within her. This was exactly why she loved doing this. The intensity of a first love, the pure thoughts and feelings, and the personal satisfaction she felt when word broke out was inspiration enough. True love was hard to come by, yet Selphie had managed to document it through rumors and pictures. This was going on her wall, right next to the Tuna pictures.
Her eyes grew wide the moment Kairi and Sora's body inched closer. Selphie gasped realizing that this was it. This was it!
"Come on. Come on. Come on," she egged. "Come to mommy."
Her soft but ardent whispers woke Riku from his little nap and he immediately caught sight of Selphie's finger circling, vulture-like, over the camera button. At that moment, he knew something big was bound to happen.
Selphie held her breath. It was the moment of truth now. It was her moment! Eyes intent, she watched as their bodies drew closer, their heads only inches away. A smile dressed both their faces. They closed the gap and Selphie suddenly fired, her senses swept up in the moment. She let out a triumphant yell as she heard the shutter flicker. She got it! The picture of a lifetime was hers.
Slipping the strap off her neck, she rushed towards Riku and showed him the picture. He could only laugh hysterically.
"What's wrong?" she asked, pulling the camera towards her. She looked down at the picture, a wave of disbelief washing over her. It was just a hug!
She hung her head in defeat. She was out of film, out of patience, and out of the moment.
"You have to be kidding me..."
Riku sighed as he patted his friend on the shoulder. "Next time."
He turned away, an ominous glint shone in his eye.
I told you so.
I'm dedicating this chapter to chickenman00712. Good luck with the army.
Rock out, party hard, live hardcore
