Chapter Seven
"So what does this mean?"
Riku looked up from the patch on Axel's couch he'd been studying; startled out of his musings by Axel's unexpected question.
The two were resting on Axel's living couch in front of the TV. Riku's head was currently resting on Axel's shoulder, "What do you mean?" asked Riku blankly.
"I mean this," Axel gestured to their positions against each other, "What does this mean?" Riku looked back down at the patch on the couch. He couldn't decide if he thought it was a stain (maybe coffee?) or an actual patch of clothe that got sewn over a rip or tear. If it was actually clothe then how did it rip?
"Riku?"
Riku blinked and returned his gaze to Axel, "Oh! Um… I don't really know…" He snuggled his head into Axel's shoulder and took a deep breath. Axel smelled good… Almost like… Barbecue…
"Well," said Axel shifting a little in order to wrap an arm around Riku's slimmer waist, "does this mean you like me back?"
Riku looked up at Axel with big eyes and nodded once, "I think so…"
Axel smirked a little, "You don't know? I'm not so sure Riku… What kind of answer is that? Is that really the best you can do?"
Riku pouted before breaking out into a mischievous grin, "Axel, I love you!" he declared loudly throwing his arms around Axel's neck and kissing him.
After he pulled away he laughed when he saw Axel's expression (It was something like this: O.O) before saying quite simply, "Better?"
"Yeah…" whispered Axel breathlessly, "Yeah…" he smiled at Riku as if inspired with an idea, "Here, come here you, I wanna try that one again."
------
Riku barely managed to get home before eight o'clock that day (surprisingly enough, Axel had been the one to remind him). But he still had a few minutes left before he walked in the front door so all was well.
When his mom opened the door and welcomed him home she said, "Oh by the way… You got quite a few calls from Kairi and Sora… They sounded worried about you. Where were you if you weren't playing with them?"
Riku hesitated before answering quickly, "Denzel and Namine and I met up at Chill after rehab. Do Sora and Kairi want me to call them back?"
"Yes, I think that would be a good idea," said Ritsuko, she sounded oddly tired, "How are Denzel and Namine? Was there some sort of occasion?"
Riku started laughing much to Mrs. Ishida's surprise, "That's what Cloud asked us…" he said in explanation.
"Oh," Mrs. Ishida blinked a few times before smiling, her son was unusually cheerful today, "well was there?"
"Not really," mused Riku, "but Denzel hasn't cut in a long time and he called Cloud 'dad'. Oh and Namine finally talked. She said 'thank you'."
Mrs. Ishida's expression of surprise grew as Riku carried on talking about his friends; she hadn't heard him talk about his day like this in so long.
"That's great sweetie," she cooed.
"Isn't it?" he said cheerfully before he grabbed the cordless phone and proceeded to climb up the stairs to his room while dialing Kairi's number, "Hey Kairi? Yeah, my mom said you called… Mm-hm she mentioned Sora too. Nope, nothing's wrong at all! I'm fine actually. Isn't that weird Kairi? I'm fine."
On her end of the line Kairi stopped and caught her breath. Riku sounded so happy. Why? What happened?
She forced a smile onto her face and said in a false happy tone, "So what have you been doing all day?"
"Hm? Oh, I met up with Denzel and Namine at Chill. And then I went to Axel's! You're never going to believe what happened at Chill! Denzel called Cloud his 'dad'! Isn't that great? That's what I thought, so I decided to buy the drinks for everyone! And… And you know what else? Denzel hasn't cut himself in a month! I couldn't believe it either! And then Namine talked! She talked to me! She said 'thank you'. So I got both of them extra-large drinks!"
Kairi smiled at Riku's enthused voice but deep down she felt a little pang of guilt and jealousy. All these friends he was making… Kairi had grown so used to the anti-social Riku who clung to her and Sora like they were his only life-support. But now he was making new friends…
She knew his getting better was a good thing, and she really was happy for him but… She couldn't help but feel a little sad. Looking after Riku all these years would be a tough habit to break.
She didn't even know half of the people he was talking about right now… Who the hell was Marlene? What kind of name was Cloud? Riku knew a girl who didn't talk? Namine? A blonde girl?
Finally one name made its way clearly into her mind.
"You went to Axel's house?!" she asked.
Riku flinched and held the phone from his ear, Why's she so mad?
"Yeah, why is that a problem? I know you don't like him but that's no reason to-
"Riku, what did you do over there?" asked Kairi narrowing her violet eyes, Riku could almost see the sparks flying on her line.
"Nothing! We just watched TV!" said Riku making up the first lie that popped into his mind, "Why are you so worked up?"
"Riku I don't like him, at all," said Kairi, "I think he's trying to hurt you… Riku," sand suddenly her tone became motherly, "Please just be careful around him."
"He's not going to hurt me Kairi!" said Riku voice rising, "Why are you and Sora so against him? Have you ever even met him?"
"Yes we have," said Kairi, balling up her fists, "and he was a total jerk!"
"He's not a jerk!" cried Riku in protest, "I-… He's not…"
Kairi's heightened voice road over Riku's continued mumbling, "He is a jerk Riku. And he knows you've been in rehab too!"
"He… what?" Riku stopped his mumbling and listened to Kairi's next words intently.
"He knows you're in rehab. Demyx told him."
Riku stopped to think about this. All this time… Even though he knew… He still treated Riku the same… He still liked Riku. So…
"So what?" hollered Riku into the mouthpiece, "If anything this is proof he's good! At least he doesn't treat me like I'm some sort of convulsive, pathetic little spaz like certain OTHER PEOPLE!!!"
And with those parting words Riku slammed the phone onto his bed and pressed the End Talk button.
Kairi's breath caught in her throat and stared at the silent phone in shock. Suddenly the operator woman's voice came on:
"If you'd like to make a call please-
Kairi hung up.
------
The next day at school Riku paid a lot more attention in class than usual. Sure there were still those little moments when he blanked but overall it was one of his best performances all year round.
And people noticed too. Olette noticed as she and Riku were going over the Chemistry lesson in the hallway. Pence and Hayner noticed as they were talking about some new video game and Riku joined in the conversation.
And Sora and Kairi noticed in the way that Riku didn't follow them to lunch like a lost little puppy.
Suddenly Riku's mind just seemed so much clearer to him. He could think things through again without much difficulty and overall it just seemed like things were going right for him.
Even the teachers observed Riku's change in mood. And they talked about it between classes; wondering what could have happened to turn him around like this.
It was like gossip, only better. And it cheered people up to see Riku smiling and talking like he used to. Even the ones that never really knew him that well couldn't help but be happy for him.
------
During rehab Denzel, Namine and Riku met up outside the building and exchanged stories of success. Namine had started talking to her family now and even said a few words to some of the girls she used to be good friends with back before she neglected her speech.
Denzel was referring to his parents as parents all the time now, and had gotten an A on a math test that he had actually studied for.
Riku told them of what had happened between him and Axel yesterday and how he'd paid a lot of attention today in school.
Denzel joked that now he and Namine had to buy Riku an extra large Chill and the three walked into group therapy laughing and chatting. Much to the surprise of the counselors.
In group therapy everyone usually opened up talking about their day and this time Denzel, Namine and Riku had quite a bit to share. So the counselors watched in amusement as the three friends carried on about how well things were going for them. And they couldn't help but be reminded of a little kid explaining his new toy to all his friends.
------
After rehab Riku called his mom and told her not to come pick him up and that he wanted to walk around town for a while. She agreed because now that Riku was doing so well she didn't need to worry as much.
Riku walked over to Axel's house and rang the door bell.
"Hey Riku," said Axel upon opening the door, he grabbed Riku by the wrist and tugged him inside the humble abode.
The force of Axel's tug sent Riku hurling into Axel's chest which in turn caused Axel to topple over. And so it was that Axel and Riku found themselves sprawled out in Axel's front hall in a very accommodating position.
…
"Uh, Riku?"
"…What?"
"You wanna, I dunno, maybe GET OFF me?"
"I would like that actually."
"Well why don't you then?"
"I can't."
"How's that?"
"I think I hurt my leg."
"…"
"Axel?"
"Well this sucks."
"Yeah…"
"Here, try moving it like th-
"Ow! Holy shit, you're making it worse!"
"…Crap."
-----
After managing to pull Riku off of him Axel carried the younger of the two up the steps of his house bridal style and eventually plopped Riku down on the edge of the bathtub. Then he began bustling around the large, spacious bathroom looking for a first aid kit.
"Wow," said Riku taking in his surroundings, "You have a big bathroom… And this tub is huge! I mean you could probably swim in it!"
"I used to when I was little," murmured Axel distractedly as he continued to open cabinet after cabinet in search of the elusive first aid kit, "Here we are!"
He spun around with a small white bow that had a red cross on the front. He placed the box on the white tile floor and proceeded to lift Riku's ankle. Riku hissed in pain as Axel gently prodded at it a little.
"It's just a sprain," muttered Axel thoughtfully as he took out an Ace Bandage and wrapped up Riku's ankle expertly.
"You're good at this," said Riku in awe as he tapped the wrappings a little.
"Thanks, I've sprained my ankle before so," Axel shrugged before straightening up as he stood, "Here c'mon let's try to get you to the couch."
"Kay," said Riku a little shakily as he got up and balanced on one foot.
"Alright, here we go," said Axel grunting as he wrapped an arm around Riku's waist to support him as the two made their way down his flight of stairs carefully.
"Kairi told me that you knew I was in rehab all this time," said Riku trying to make conversation. Axel wasn't that surprised, it had probably been some "clever" ploy to get Riku to start avoiding him.
"Is that so? Yeah I knew," he said, wondering if Riku was upset by this fact.
"Yeah, but Axel? There's one thing I still don't get…" Riku paused and struggled for words, "Why do you like me then? Don't you think I'm crazy?"
"Okay first of all Riku," said Axel as they finally sat down on the couch, "I'm twenty years old and I don't just like people. If I stumble into a relationship it's because I think something might actually come out of it. So don't say that I just like you."
"So you um," Riku's eyes widened as realization dawned on him, "you don't like me uh… You l-…l-… love me?"
"It's fine if you don't actually love me, you're still in high school, it's cool," said Axel running a hand through his hair carelessly, "now back to the main topic here. I liked you even before I found out you'd been and are in rehab. When I did find out I… Well sure I was nervous, but mostly I was just worried. I wanted to help."
"Well I think that's very nice of you," said Riku sighing contently as he laid his head down on Axel's shoulder.
------
Roxas ran up the steps to the teen rehab center. He was five minutes late… Rehab had just ended… But there was still a chance Riku was here…
Suddenly he felt himself collide with something soft and warm. Roxas and the "something" both fell to the ground with small grunts of discomfort.
He looked up rubbing the back of his head and saw what just might have been the most innocent, simply adorable creature he'd ever seen…
"I-…" the girl stumbled over her words as if testing out how they felt on her tongue; it was as if talking was something that was utterly foreign to her, "I'm sorry… I guess I should've been watching where I was going," she murmured, ducking her head in apology.
Roxas found that around this girl English seemed as foreign to him as it seemed it did to her, "Ah! Um… I-It's fine! Don't worry about it! It's my fault really! I wasn't watching where I was going…" He offered her a smile and extended his hand, "I'm Roxas. You?"
She smiled and opened her mouth to talk…
"Hey Namine! Come here!"
The blonde girl's head jerked up and she looked over to a boy about her age that had a mop of reddish brown hair. He waved at her and hollered again.
The girl (Namine?) sent a sheepish smile at Roxas and said quietly, "Guess I'd better get going. It was nice meeting you. Are you a patient here?"
"Oh uh no!" Roxas laughed a little but the girl's expression fell, "I'm just here for a friend," Roxas explained, the laughter in his voice dieing as her face flashed hurt.
"Oh I see," she said, "I should be going… Bye…"
"See you around!" called Roxas, he then mentally slapped himself. What was he saying? He was probably never going to get another chance to see her…
------
"Kairi…?"
"Yeah Sora?"
"…Nevermind."
Kairi's gaze was downcast and her red bangs hung over her face and shadowed her violet eyes. Sora cocked his head to one side and blinked at her.
"What's wrong?" he asked voice laced with concern, "C'mon you can tell me."
"I…" she sighed and looked away, "Riku's been improving a lot lately hasn't he?"
Sora frowned; somehow he didn't think that was what she had initially meant to say. Taking a step forward he grabbed her arm with his right hand and tilted her head up with his left. Her eyes were a little watery.
"Now that you've gotten that out," said Sora delicately, "Wanna tell me what's really bothering you?" Kairi bit her lip, smearing carefully applied lip gloss.
"Sora I'm worried he doesn't need us around anymore," said Kairi.
Sora paused before saying, "Kairi even if he doesn't need us to coddle him we're still his best friends. We were his best friends before the accident and we still can be."
Kairi's eyes narrowed, "It wasn't an accident that-
Sora cut her off with his mouth. Kairi's eyes grew to the size of saucers and her initial instinct was to pull away but then again… It felt way too right to do anything like that. Sora was the one to end it and when he did he looked her in the eye, his face was unusually dead serious.
"Kairi if you want proof that Riku still may need a little bit of help," he thought for a second, "he still goes back to that library."
Kairi's eyes widened for the second time, "He does? How do you know?"
"I saw him there just this week," said Sora quickly.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she whispered.
"I didn't want you to worry," said Sora, his face softened into a smile and he rubbed her cheek with his thumb, "I've been worried about you a lot lately… You're always so stressed from looking after Riku."
"He might've just been there to get some reading done," said Kairi.
"Nope," Sora shook his head slightly so that his brown locks swayed a little and tickled Kairi's face, "he was just sitting there staring at his surroundings. I talked to that new librarian… She said he goes there a lot. But he never reads. Sometimes he walks around a little. She also said that whenever she asked him if he needed any help he would refuse looking like he was about to cry.
"Anyways," said Sora lazily putting his arms behind his head, "it's not in our hands at the moment. For once."
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Kairi, What else does Sora know that I don't? Someone's been doing their homework…
"It means Riku is currently at Axel's house," said Sora grinning his cheesy grin, when he saw Kairi's face he added, "Let them be Kairi. I think he really cares about Riku. And Riku's really starting to love him back."
"Love?"
"Yeah, isn't that great? You should be happy for him."
Kairi took a deep breath, she smiled and linked fingers with Sora, "Whatever you say Sora…"
"Good girl," said Sora.
They walked away hand in hand.
Author's Note: READ THIS NOW!!! This story is going on temporary hiatus (key word there temporary). Why? I want to get my multi-chapter Demiku story out soon. And the only way I can do that is if I finish "One Week of French Torment". So my plan is to write the last few chapters of that story, THEN I'll right chapter eight of THIS story. Then I'll write the first chapter of "Macarena". Because I only want to write two multi-chapters at a time people. I tried my best to not leave any cliffhangers in this chapter so that I wouldn't have to leave all of you hanging.
Please review as always!
bliss
