A/N: Thanks so much for all the reviews! And for all the author alerts and story alerts, I really wasn't expecting so many! Well it's really not that many. Personally I really don't think my writing is all that great, so it's good to get some encouragement every now and then. Lol, I'm glad you like it though.
Disclaimer: I don't own KH... yet.
x-X-x
Back in front of the band room, the flutes and trumpets had joined the commotion, and it had turned into an all out war zone. Yuna and Pence had escaped and shut themselves in the band room, leaving everyone else stuck outside.
Kairi screamed and covered her face with her hands as a water balloon flew straight at her.
"No!" Sora shouted, diving in front of her, the balloon hitting him in the chest. "Don't worry Kairi, I'll protect you!" he declared, a look of determination on his face.
"Oh Sora, that was so sweet of you!" Kairi beamed, giving him a hug that was getting her wet anyways. Sora's face turned bright red as Kairi squeezed him.
"See, why can't you be more like Sora? Protect me!" Selphie shouted, squirting Tidus in the face with a water gun.
"Ah! You don't need protecting!" Tidus shouted, attempting to block the water with his hands.
Selphie squealed as an incoming water balloon hit her in the back. "Oh, I don't, do I?" she asked, glaring at Tidus.
"Don't worry baby, I'll get him!" said Tidus, picking up a water balloon and hurling it towards their attacker.
Splash
Tidus froze. He looked as if he had seen a ghost. He had been aiming at Demyx, but the balloon had not hit the blonde he was hoping for.
Cloud wiped his forehead with the back of his hand as the water dripped down his face. The band had instantly gone silent.
"... I trusted you today... and this is how you repay me?"
Everyone looked down at their feet guiltily.
"I can't believe-" Cloud stopped himself, swallowing his anger. He sighed, running his hands through his hair. "Alright. I can understand. It is really hot today... But I'm disappointed in all of you. We only have two more days to get everything right, we can't afford to waste time. So, this was your lunch time. You have five minutes to eat and then I want you back in your sections. I'll be coming around to make sure you're working. And we'll be making up those five minutes at the end of the day, understood?"
"Yes Sir!"
Cloud made his way over to the door, where Yuna hesitantly pushed it open and quickly stepped out of his way. Everyone slowly began to move and silently got their lunches. The rest of the day was quiet, filled with hard work.
x-X-x
It was 4:07. Cloud hadn't lied about making up that extra time. Roxas was on his way to the parking lot. He was riding home with Axel again.
Suddenly a blonde blur rushed past him. "Shotgun!" shouted a grinning Demyx, running towards Axel's car. He was carrying several of the water guns used today. Roxas assumed they must be his.
Axel laughed, "Looks like you're riding in the back. Him and Marluxia are coming over today. You should join us."
Roxas thought about it. He wasn't looking forward to going back to his empty house.
May as well, he thought. It would be nice to have people to hang out with again. He really missed his friends from Twilight Town... but he didn't want to think about that.
"Dem, are those empty?"
"...yes." Demyx said, as innocently as he could. The ridiculous grin kind of gave him away.
"Right... they're going in the trunk."
Demyx pouted, "But, but Axel!"
Axel smirked, "Actually, why don't you go ride with Marluxia?"
Demyx smirked evilly, "I like the way you think," he said, before taking off.
"Hmm... maybe that was a little harsh," said Axel.
Roxas shrugged, "I'm sure he'll be fine. It won't be the first time he's gotten wet today."
Axel laughed, "No, I meant to Demyx. Marluxia's gonna kill him."
x-X-x
Namine was nervous about her lessons with Cloud today. She felt incredibly guilty for what had happened earlier.
Well, it wasn't our fault... we were attacked, she thought ...Not that we were doing anything before that though.
Either way, she was done slacking off. It was time to get to work if she wanted to be ready for the first show.
"Um... I'm really sorry, for messing around today..." she said, sitting down next to Cloud, "It won't ever happen again. I'm ready to get serious now."
Cloud had a sincere look on his face. "It's alright... I apologize if I've been pushing too hard. I just want to make sure everyone is ready."
He must really care about this...
Before, Namine had thought he was just doing his job and was kind of apathetic to the idea, but now she realized there was more. He really wanted them to do well.
Maybe that's why he seems strict and cold sometimes... This must be important to him.
Namine wondered how he had come to be a high school band teacher. He didn't exactly seem the type.
"Cloud... how did you decide you wanted to teach band?"
Cloud's face softened, "That's a long story..." The look disappeared as soon as it came however, being replaced by his usual blank expression. "We need to get started now. You said you were ready to get serious, correct?"
"Yes,"
"Then let's begin."
x-X-x
"Well, that could have gone better..." said Rikku, sitting on the end of Yuna's bed.
Yuffie groaned, "You think? She was supposed to go crying home in shame, not WEAR his SHIRT! I can't believe he did that..."
"You know, I think we may have actually brought them closer together..."
"Why didn't you guys tell me you were planning this?" Yuna interrupted softly, she seemed hurt.
"We knew you wouldn't approve," said Yuffie.
"I guess you're right... I could've told you this wouldn't work out though. What were you thinking?"
"We had to do something,"
"Next time tell me what you're going to do."
"Why? So you can try and stop us?"
"No! So I can help you!" Yuna exclaimed. The two girls stared at their usually quiet friend in surprise. "Yuffie, we've been friends for four years... why can't you trust me?" Her blue and green eyes shimmered, wet with tears threatening to fall any moment.
Yuffie felt a sharp pang of guilt in her chest. "Yuna I do trust you..."
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"We didn't want to drag you into this mess... we thought you wouldn't want to-"
"Yuff, you're one of my best friends. I'd do anything to help you, don't you know that?"
Yuffie looked at her friend. It was clear how much she cared. "I do know that. I...I'm sorry."
"Aw, Yunie, don't be sad," Rikku said, pulling the brunette into a tight hug, "Forgive us?"
Yuna smiled and nodded.
"Next time you can help out!"
"Next time?" asked Yuna. "You're not done?"
"Today didn't exactly... go as planned," said Yuffie, "But we can't give up. I... I'm not ready to let go, Yuna..."
Yuffie leaned back and closed her eyes.
"I still love him."
Yuffie was sitting on a high up branch. She looked over at him. A soft breeze was blowing through the night air, rustling his beautiful silver hair. His aqua eyes were gazing at her as if to see what she was thinking. The branches of the willow tree swayed slightly as the delicate strands of leaves swayed around them.
"Riku?"
"Yes?"
She paused, "...do you love me?"
A look of surprise crossed his face. "Of course I do Yuffie,"
"...would you protect me? Keep me safe?"
"Of course I would,"
"Promise?"
"What?"
"Promise me," her voice was soft, but urgent.
"Yuffie, I promise," he whispered, pulling her into his arms. She closed her eyes as she felt his warm embrace surround her. "I'll never let anyone hurt you..."
She felt her eyes begin to water, a single tear escaping to slide down her cheek as she turned so he wouldn't see. He pulled a small pocket knife from his jeans and began to carve something into the tree.
"Look," he said, "This means I'll always be here for you. Forever. You don't ever have to worry, okay?"
A few strands of moonlight streamed through the leafy canopy to light his face as he gave her a small smile.
"...I love you Riku,"
"I love you too."
She remembered that moment, feeling so loved... so safe. She would do anything to get it back.
Now his words were bitter. He was getting too close to that girl. She saw it all, that embrace on the first day, all the kind words. Every smile, every little touch, it was poison to Yuffie. It was sickening.
"Who does that Namine chick think she is? She has no right to be all over him, she doesn't even know him! He's mine... and I'm getting him back!"
I haven't forgotten your promise Riku.
x-X-x
"I still can't believe he made Demyx walk all the way to your house..." said Roxas.
"I can," said Axel, "But I can't believe he made Demyx watch while he drove over his water guns, the poor kid was seriously crying."
"Feel bad yet?"
"...a little, I guess I'll buy him some new ones."
They arrived at Roxas' house.
"I had a great time today... thanks."
"Yeah, we'll have to do it again sometime."
"Well, see you tomorrow."
"See ya."
Roxas walked in the front door and found Namine asleep at the kitchen table. Her head was rested on her arms, which were folded across the table. She still held her clarinet tightly in one hand.
Roxas sighed. She must have been practicing for hours.
"Namine," he said, softly shaking her shoulder.
She slowly sat up, rubbing her eyes, "...huh?"
"You fell asleep practicing," he said.
"...oh... I didn't realize..." she was still out of it.
"You should get some rest sleepyhead," Roxas teased, ruffling her hair.
"Right," Namine smiled sheepishly, before walking down the hall on unsteady feet. She still wasn't fully awake, so she placed her hand on the wall to steady herself as she made her way to her room. She collapsed in her bed and fell asleep almost instantly.
It was quiet. Namine didn't know where she was. The room looked familiar, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She realized she was lying down, her body clad in a beautiful blue dress. Looking around, all she could see were dark shadowy figures. The quiet sounds of whimpering and sniffling could be heard in the background. There was an overwhelming sense of sadness and grief. Namine couldn't remember where she was, but she knew she didn't like this place. She sensed her brother among the shadows. He just sat there, blue eyes staring at nothing. She tried to move, to ask him what was going on, but she couldn't, her body seemed frozen in place. Her heart began to race as she panicked. She screamed, but no voice came.
"Roxas! Help me!"
But he just sat there, staring, in his own little world.
"What's wrong with you? Wake up!"
The whimpers in the background had turned into wails and sobs. Namine was terrified; she needed to get out of this place. In her mind she was thrashing around, flailing her arms and legs, but her limbs refused to move.
"Someone! Please!"
Out of the shadows, something stepped forward. Namine could see it out of the corner of her eye. She tried to turn her neck to look at it, but her head remained frozen, staring up at the plain white ceiling tiles. The figure kept getting closer, until it leaned over her.
...It was Cloud, and he was wearing that horrible broken look on his face. He just stared at her. A single tear slid down his cheek.
"Don't...don't look at me like that,"
She couldn't take that look. She wanted to comfort him. Wanted to reach up and wipe the tears from his face. But she remained paralyzed, her delicate hands lying clasped on her chest.
"Please don't cry!"
She watched as the tears fell from his beautiful blue eyes, dripping onto her lifeless body. He was speaking, saying something to her, but no sound came from his lips.
"I can't hear you!" she screamed desperately. But he couldn't hear her.
It felt like she was crying, but the tears just wouldn't come. She realized her lungs weren't moving.
She saw his lips form the words 'I love you', a look of pure agony on his face before he reached up, pulling something down over her.
Everything was plunged into darkness and silence. Suddenly she longed for the sounds of moaning and the plain white tiles to return, anything was better than this.
"No! Don't leave me! Please don't leave me!" she silently pleaded.
She struggled to move her body, even as she knew it was useless. She felt the numbness taking over. It seemed the only part of her that could move was her heart, rapidly pounding in her chest as fear overwhelmed her.
"Don't leave me!"
Namine gasped, her eyes flashing open. Her skin was soaked with a layer of sweat. She threw the covers off, the lingering feeling of being trapped in darkness still with her. She jumped out of bed and turned the light on. Her heart was still racing as she sat down at the end of her bed.
Just breathe... In and out. In and out. She was relieved by the familiar feel of air flowing down her throat, her lungs moving up and down. She shuddered at the thought of being paralyzed. Holding her hands up in front of her, she slowly clenched her fingers together. She closed her eyes, letting out a sigh of relief.
Her shaking hand slowly rose to her face, feeling the dampness resting on her cheeks.
...tears.
They began to fall again.
I can't go back to this... not now...
A/N: Poor Namine. That was a pretty messed up dream there at the end. The symbolism seems pretty obvious to me, lol, but then again, I am the writer. I already know what happened, what will happen, and what I'm trying to imply. If anyone has any idea what it's supposed to mean, let me know. I'd love to hear what you think.
Anyways, now you know who was plotting in the earlier chapters. You could have probably figured that out in the last chapter though, lol. And that mysterious carving in the willow tree has been explained.
Yuffie and Riku... lol, who knew? I did drop a few subtle hints. Or at least tried to. I've been hinting about a lot of things in this story, I hope someone's been catching them.
Don't worry, it'll all make sense eventually. At least that's the plan.
Hope you liked the chapter. Drop me a line if you want. Thanks for reading :)
