Chapter 9
It was funny what one phone call could do.
An invisible shockwave was sent through the school administration, causing every employee, from the teachers to the janitors, to run for cover. The Headmaster ordered the Destiny High equivalent of Order 66, drawing in swarms of third-party auditors and investigators. Any teacher with half a brain knew that it was their neck on the chopping block. The school staff was left scrambling for the hills, and they had no idea who was the one who lit the fire.
While mass hysteria and panic spread through the faculty, for the students, it was just another Wednesday. They had no clue what was going on. As far as they were concerned, Xehanort was on vacation while the Student Council simply imploded on itself, with the entire organization frozen, and all officers relieved of duty. The Headmaster appointed a counselor as a temporary oversight officer for the council, at least until elections were held at the end of the year. People thought it was weird that the Student Council just collapsed like the Soviet Union, but nobody cared enough to find out why. The student body's indifference towards the once prestigious Student Council demonstrated just how far it fell from grace.
The counselor appointed as oversight officer was none other than Sora's counselor, Tifa Lockhart. She was sent to the Student Council room to hold a reorientation meeting for all current and prospective members of the now defunct organization. Sora, Kairi, along with some freshmen and sophomores sat at a table while Tifa forced a smile in front of them. It was painfully obvious that she was out of her element. Things were made worse since investigators were emptying out file cabinets in a none-too-discreet manner, causing a ruckus ill-suited for an important meeting.
"Alright boys and girls, I'm Ms. Tifa Lockhart. I'm sure some of you recognize me as your counselor, but from now on, I'll also be acting as…temporary…oversight…officer." She had great difficulty squeezing out the last few words. They were too foreign on her tongue. Kairi raised her hand, catching Tifa's attention. "Yes?"
"What exactly is a temporary oversight officer?" she asked.
"I was kind of hoping you could tell me that."
Bang!
Everyone jumped at the noise and looked towards the back. One of the investigators picked up a fallen drawer. He stared back as if he had done nothing wrong. "Am I interrupting something?" The sound of footsteps, fluttering loose-leaf paper, and banging shelves were the only response.
"No no, not at all. Carry on," Tifa offered in return, doing her best to smile. A round of snickers chorused around the table. Tifa planted her forehead in her palm. "I never asked for this. I signed up to be a counselor and help students find their way in life, not do oversight...officiating." Kairi raised her hand again. Tifa pointed to her. "Yes?"
"I have a suggestion, why don't you appoint temporary officers to watch over everything? You'll have the final say in everything of course; just to make sure we don't do something to threaten your job security."
"Whoa whoa, why you gotta bring up job security?" she laughed nervously. "It's not like people are getting fired here or anything, I'm not worried, not worried at all! I'm secure, totally secure, not like the other teachers. Having said that, that is an absolutely amazing idea. So who wants to be temporary president?" Kairi's hand was the only one up. "You're hired! So uh, take charge and start…presidentiating. If you guys need anything, I'm going to be in the gym." It was common knowledge what Ms. Lockhart did in the gym: beat the living daylights out of a punching bag she lovingly named as "Cloud." She basically said, "Don't bother me unless it's something important." As soon as she left, all eyes fell on Kairi. She put out a big grin.
"What are we waiting for? We have a homecoming to plan!" After the necessary positions were filled (treasurer, secretary, etc.), Kairi finally turned to Sora. "As for you Sora, congratulations, you are now vice president."
"Wow, I don't think I've ever held such a nice-sounding title." Kairi, now the new temp president, giggled at his words. "Who said you can't leapfrog your way into an executive position?" Sora mused.
"You did. You said, gotta work my way up, didn't you?" she reminded him.
"Did I?" he feigned. She slapped him on the arm. "Ow! What did I say about violence?"
Kairi giggled again. "None of this would've happened if you hadn't known that Xemnas was Xehanort's son. How did you even know that?" Xemnas grew up in an orphanage after his biological mom died, and was then adopted for his brilliance. It was impossible for Sora to know what he did, at least without future knowledge.
"They kind of look the same. I figure it was a family resemblance." Her face creased in disbelief, but there really was no other logical explanation. "That or I come from the future."
"Do you now? Can you tell me what happens next?" she teased.
Sora was about to answer until a hand landed on his shoulder. "Mr. Sora Hikari?" It was one of the suits. Three of them stood there. They put on an imposing front.
"That's me," Sora answered.
"The Headmaster wishes to see you. We'll escort you to his office," the man explained. The room stopped, and all eyes fell on Sora. It seemed like an incident was brewing. Kairi herself looked worried.
Sora gave her a reassuring smile. "It'll be okay." The suits pulled from the room and lead the boy to the top floor where the Headmaster's office was. Sora had only been in the Headmaster's office once in his life. The top floor was exclusively for the Headmaster, so he was privy to an extremely rare space. Whispers floated around the students as to what the office was like. They imagined all sorts of crazy adornments, but the funny thing was, they weren't too far off the mark. Sure there weren't any giant stuffed grizzly bears or the like, but the office was obviously packed to the brim with luxury. Walking on the carpet even felt like stepping on hundred dollar bills. Sora was sandwiched by the suits, one in front leading, and two escorting from the rear. They finally stopped before a grand door.
"Here you are." The lead suit nodded and ushered the other two men away, leaving Sora alone by the office entrance. It was a large and intimidating door with intricately carved wood designs and patterns. The boy admired the craftsmanship, feeling the curve of the material with his free hand. He pushed it open to reveal a grand room.
Ansem sat behind a mahogany desk at the very end where giant glass windows let in a wealth of light. The ceiling was extraordinarily high for an office, with crystal chandeliers hanging from up high. As Sora approached the desk, he was keenly aware of the office interior. Everything seemed to be made from genuine hardwood, and every detail was lovingly hand-crafted.
Sora reached the old man, allowing him to see the mysterious Headmaster up close and personal. Ansem was an imposing figure with deep and penetrating orange eyes. His pale blond hair was immaculately groomed, and he wore clothes that Sora was sure cost more than his tuition. He certainly possessed a regal air.
"Come, have a seat," the Headmaster directed. It was probably the most comfortable chair Sora ever sat in. "Good afternoon Mr. Hikari, do you know why I summoned you here?" Sora shook his head. "It was because of your information that our investigation yielded...most interesting discoveries. I decided that you deserved to know the result of your actions." Ansem leaned back, as if expecting a response.
"So...what did you learn?" he hesitantly asked. Everything about the environment and Ansem himself was intimidating. The Headmaster's booming voice commanded attention. Sora felt the need to be careful with his words.
"By establishing a familial connection between Xehanort and Xemnas, we were able to find incidents by which his son was involved with, but never came to light thanks to Xehanort's abuse of authority. He had also threatened several teachers that they would lose their jobs if they did not make concessions in favor of Xemnas' grades. But Xehanort's crimes are far more gregarious than a few adjusted marks. Xehanort and Xemnas have, for the last three years, embezzled funds from the school." Embezzlement? Wasn't that a white-collar crime?
"Embezzled funds? How?"
Ansem narrowed his eyes, which sent a shiver down the boy's spine. "Through the student council. As you know, a percentage of the total tuition is appropriated for the Student Council, for use in student life; events, dances, and the like. Working with his father, Xemnas had been making false purchases using fake invoices. Money was actually being transferred into dummy accounts under the guise of buying event supplies. The actual events were underfunded and less frequently held as a result. Xehanort had taken full advantage of my wife's illness, employing his scheme while I was not here to oversee things. There are oversight committees to prevent this, but I suspect that Xehanort has corrupted them."
"Wow." What else could he say? To think that something like this was happening right under their noses!
"Indeed, a lot can happen from learning just one key piece of information. This was all thanks to your intel. Our investigation has indeed confirmed that Xehanort is Xemnas' true biological father, though he went to great pains to hide that fact. I have to say, however, that I am most curious as to how you obtained that information?"
Sora had no idea what to say. What he told Kairi wouldn't fly here. "I..."
Ansem laughed. "You don't have to tell me, I was simply curious. I'm sure you understand that everything I've told you is quite sensitive?" Sora nodded. "And I trust that you won't tell anyone else about this?" He nodded again. "It's just unfortunate that a man of Xehanort's talent would abuse his power like this, and for such petty things. Someday, you'll understand the temptation of power. Use it responsibly like you've done today. Before I dismiss you, do you have any questions for me?"
As far as he was concerned, the problem of the Student Council was resolved. He didn't realize that the Student Council was only a front for illegal activities, but as long as Kairi was able to pursue her dreams, everything was peachy. He did want to know one thing though, "Why tell me all this?"
"Because I wanted you to understand that actions have consequences. The opposite is also true, inaction also has consequences. If your mother hadn't called me with that information, for how long would Xehanort continue to rob these children blind? This entire fiasco is my fault. I should've known that when I took a leave of absence the moment my wife fell ill, there would be a power vacuum. Love tends to blind us from the most obvious things. My wife is dying Mr. Hikari. I want nothing else but to spend every last moment with her. But to do so would incur great cost. I have a responsibility to this school and its students. I can't throw that away just to be with my wife. It only makes me wish that I had spent more time with her before, but I know how she feels. She would rather have me here, fulfilling my obligations, than be right next to her."
"I'm sorry." It was a cliché offer of consolation.
"That's quite alright. We must all recognize that we have to return to the real world one day. For me, that day has come. Thank you Mr. Hikari, for reminding me of my passion: to educate the youth of Destiny Island. You are dismissed." Sora let out a breath. That was intense. He stood up and turned around to leave, but Ansem's voice stopped him one more time. "Can you please tell Aerith to bring more jasmine flowers the next time she visits? They're my wife's favorite." Jasmine was a beautiful flower with a wonderful scent.
"Of course, Headmaster."
The second he left the office, Sora wiped the sweat off his brow. He could never get used to the atmosphere. He wasn't surprised to learn that Xehanort had been engaged in such shady business. He recalled the stories published about him in the past. The story about Xehanort in the school newspaper only drew further scrutiny, and it wasn't until much later that charges of embezzlement were levied against him. There were always suspicions, but the evidence just wasn't there.
As soon as Kairi was elected to Student Council President in her sophomore year, a mysterious fire rippled through the council room. Much of the documents related to the last few years were destroyed. Blame fell on Axel, but his punishment was unusually lenient for an act of arson. It was declared to be an "accident," and that was the end of that.
Sora made his way back to the council room. It was finally bustling with students who actually worked. Kairi sat at the desk, scrolling through different documents. She looked up and recognized him.
"Welcome back!" she greeted. "So what was that all about?"
"He just wanted to thank me," Sora said low, as to not alert the other students. He did make a promise not to tell anyone else about the affair. The Headmaster wanted to maintain the school's reputation. If such a scandal came to light, things would not look good for him at all.
"Is that it? You were in there for at least half an hour," she rebutted.
"It was a thirty-minute thank you," he answered cheekily.
Kairi shook her head. "Forget I asked."
"So what are you up to?" He took a seat next to her and looked over the documents she was holding.
"I'm trying to get an idea of how much money we have, but its kind of hard to do that with these men coming in and out taking all the papers!" she complained. He glanced at the table and saw bins of paper that were labeled "processed." He assumed that Kairi was going through those. "I'm trying to decide on a venue, but I can't do that unless I know our budget."
"Ooh! Pick me, pick me!" one of the students shouted out.
"What is it Hayner?" Kairi replied. Hayner. Sora remembered him. He was also a part of the Student Council. He used to do all the grunt work.
"Why don't we use the gym? Since it belongs to the school, it should be free right?" he suggested.
Kairi made a show of thinking about it, but shook her head vehemently afterward. "Right now, there's not a whole lot of respect for the Student Council. If we really want to gain their attention, we have to go all out! The gym is what the old council would've done."
"I have a suggestion," Sora chimed in. "What about the Galbadia?"
"The Galbadia?"
"It's a hotel, and they often work with my mom. She always arranging for events like weddings and conventions there. On the third floor, they have this giant ballroom that'd be perfect for homecoming, but there is one thing."
"And what's that?" the temp president asked.
"It's pricey."
Kairi slammed her stack of documents against the table. "I'm sold! It doesn't matter how much it costs. We can't spare any expense when it comes to the students. Hayner, book it!"
"Yes ma'am!" he saluted.
The Galbadia was a truly beautiful place. Sora had helped his mom in the past with her job, so he knew his way around the hotel. It sat right in front of the beach and offered amazing views for anybody inside. The third floor ballroom was amazing. Long drapes streamed from the walls, gleaming polished floors reflected everything, and the glass windows offered a perfect view of the setting sun. There was no better location for a dance.
The days flew by as work escalated in the Student Council room. The logistics to throwing an event were mind-boggling, but it was something Sora knew well. He was able to stay on top of things, much to Kairi's surprise. She never knew that he could be so reliable and dependable. Whether it came to reservations, catering, décor, or managing personnel, Sora did it all with great skill and patience. Before she knew it, she found herself relying on him.
"Aren't you a busy bee?" Mrs. Hikari teased. Sora was at the dining table, looking over invoices. He looked up at his mom and smiled.
"Kairi's the one going crazy. I'm just trying to help out," he laughed back.
"It's nice to see you so active," his mom commented. "But it feels like you're spending too much time at school nowadays. Don't you have any time for you poor mother?"
Sora laughed. "Sorry about that mom, but you know, duty calls."
"I understand," she said, hugging her son close. "I'm proud of you. Keep working hard!" The doorbell rang. "Ah, I'll get that. You just keep working." Sora watched as his mom skipped to the front door. She opened it, revealing an odd couple. "Hi there! Cid, Shera, so nice to see you! To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?"
"Always great to see you Aerith!" Shera replied. The smell of pie wafted in the kitchen, causing Sora's stomach to rumble.
"Aerith," Cid grunted.
"Come on in!" Mrs. Hikari directed. The couple stepped in and spotted Sora by the table.
"Hey there, kiddo!" Shera greeted happily. "I have something for you!" She raised up a pan with a freshly baked pie.
"Aw, you're the best Aunt Shera!" She was a pretty woman with brown hair tied up in a pony tail and warm eyes. She left her rocket science days behind and decided to become a cook, leading her to create all kinds of novel recipes for new pies. She traded one science for another, much to Sora's delight. He couldn't eat rockets after all.
"Aren't ya forgettin' somebody kid?" a gruff voice shouted.
"Oh, hiya Cid."
"That's Uncle Cid to ya, punk." The engineer came up to the boy and mussed his hair. "Where have ya been? I could use yer help at the shop," the man laughed. Working with Cid was not a pleasant experience. The engineer wasn't a unique character. The aerospace engineering field was filled with nothing but chain-smoking, alcoholic, verbally abusive, but brilliant men. It wasn't easy being the scrawny kid whose intelligence registered less than one on the aerospace scale. He was a prime target for all jokes regarding brain power and strength. It was a trauma that took years to overcome.
"I'd rather not. Besides, I'm handicapped," the brunet replied, raising his cast.
Cid hit the boy in the back. "That don't stop better men, boy. Busy with yer nonsense Student Council? I hear there's been a shakedown at the school. Tifa's been goin' crazy over it," he chuckled.
"Leave the poor woman alone, she has a lot to deal with," Aerith said, smiling. "Now Shera, you have got to share your new recipe with me."
"I'd love to!"
"Boy, lets git outta here while the missus are in the kitchen." It was time for a smoke break. Sora followed the older man to the backyard, where his mom's personal garden was. It was secretly one of Destiny Island's greatest tourist locations, only if they were lucky enough to see it. Where most gardens were tilled and trimmed to fit our practical needs, Aerith's garden was simply a space where flowers could be themselves. It was a wild patch of exploding colors, unique shapes, and fresh smells—a tiny slice of paradise. The brunet would've liked to take in the sweet scents, but it was quickly overtaken by smoke.
He coughed lightly. "You should quit smoking."
"Wouldn't that be the day?" the blond mused, as he sucked on his stick. He opened his mouth, allowing the smoke to vent. "I remember the day I proposed to Shera. She agreed to marry me on one condition, and that was if I quit smokin'. I thought it was a bullshit condition, so I told her, 'The day I stop smokin' is the day I git kids.' I was serious when I said it, but it looks like that day will never come." He laughed sardonically. "Life's shit when you think about it. Shera shoulda just let me done it."
"Do what?" Sora echoed.
"Kill the man. Dr. Hojo, the man responsible for the whole project. But she stopped me before I could. He gets a medal for space exploration, and all we get is a paltry check to shut us up. I dunno how she could do it, how she could smile after all that's happened. Shera's the strongest person I know."
"Even stronger than you?"
"I said she was the strongest didn't I? Let me tell you something about love." Oh dear, this was guaranteed to be something special. "When it comes to love, yer feelin's don't mean shit. The only thing that matters is her." Cid let out a long drag. "It took me a long time to learn that. I'm set in my ways. Dunno if I'm ever gonna quit. Sometimes, it's no use fixin' up an old bird. You gotta let go, and throw it in the scrap heap." A lot happens in a decade. Was there any way Sora could tell this Cid that things were going to turn out fine? The man who flew him from Radiant Garden to Destiny Islands was a much different man than this.
"Cid."
"Uncle Cid." He didn't omit the "uncle" on purpose; his brain just wasn't able to juxtapose the two words together.
"Uncle Cid, I mean. Things are going to be okay. You just have to stick with life long enough to see things change."
The engineer took in a long drag and smirked. "You startin' to sound like yer old man!" Sora smiled. His words seemed to cheer the engineer up. Cid handed the lit cigarette to Sora. "Here, throw this away for me."
Sora had to get rid of it quick, his mom hated cigarettes in the garden.
"Sora, would you like a slice of—what on earth are you doing! Throw that thing away!" his mother screeched. Too late.
"It's not what it looks like!"
Cid guffawed in the background.
The next few days blew by like a cool autumn breeze. Things move fast when you're busy. He spent countless days after school working with Kairi to make sure that everything was going to be perfect. He wasn't a stranger to the process. His memories of high school were never too distinct. It was all just a blur, a blend of constant toil and failures, a persistent application of force against immovable objects. He was always moving and never had a chance to slow down and appreciate the ride. Before he knew it, high school was over.
But he was rewriting history. It wasn't a blur now. Each day was exciting, filled with anticipation, and fun. He was spending time with Kairi. The moments together with Kairi that used to be so rare now rained like cherry blossoms in full bloom. He wished time would freeze, so that he could enjoy it forever.
Sora was walking through the school hallway by himself. It was late after school and most of the students had already gone home. His footsteps were the only sound heard, until a voice caught his attention.
"Sora!" He spun around to see Naminé standing before a glass case. She was waving at him. "Get over here." He hadn't seen Naminé at all since his encounter with her in the empty Student Council room.
"Naminé…where have you been this entire time?" he asked, as he jogged up to her.
She stood there with her hands behind her back. She adjusted her glasses and gave a small smirk. "Did you miss me?"
"Well…yeah. I thought you were in the Student Council? How come you never show up?" he wondered. She had almost slipped his mind. He was so busy working with Kairi that he forgot about her.
"Silly. Didn't I tell you? The moment you joined the council, I was no longer needed." The brunet only furrowed his brow in confusion. "How's the arm?"
"I got used to it. Even though it's still in a cast, I figure I just have to wait it out a little longer."
"You've been spending quite a lot of time with her haven't you? One might say, you actually like her," Naminé teased. Was she referring to Kairi?
Sora rubbed the back of his head, embarrassed. "What do you know?"
"Only as much as you do," she said mysteriously. She switched her attention back to the glass and hummed. "Hmmm…care to take a look at this?" She gestured towards a painting behind the glass case. They were standing near the front office, where they displayed trophies and awards, with some that belonged to the school and others to exceptional students. Sora took a closer look, seeing a portrait of a white spiral staircase in the shape of a double helix.
"It's a nice picture."
"Do you like it?" Her expression was expectant.
"I'm not much of an art aficionado, but I can read. This picture won first place, didn't it?"
She was disappointed. "You didn't answer my question."
"It's good," he gave hastily. "Is there a meaning behind it?"
She sighed. "Just admit it; you don't care about the painting. I was the one who made it, you know."
He blinked. "Oh."
She giggled at his face. "You wouldn't be able to tell, because I didn't put my name on it. Kairi gave me the courage to submit it but…I couldn't put my signature on it. It felt too embarrassing. I could claim the award for first place, but I think I'd like it to remain nameless."
"There's an award?" he asked.
"Yup. It's not restricted to this school, it was a national art contest."
"National?"
"The first place prize is one thousand dollars," she revealed.
"And you're not gonna claim that?" he replied incredulously. "You mind if I do?"
She laughed. "Take a closer look, Sora. Tell me what you see?"
"Did I miss something the first time?" He leaned his head closer to examine the picture more carefully. He finally saw it. "The top leads to the bottom. It's a closed loop."
"Bingo! I drew inspiration from Escher, who as you may know, was famous for perspective drawings filled with impossible angles and paradoxes. It doesn't matter how far you up go, because you'll wind up back at the beginning again."
"What a horrible staircase," he joked.
"What would you do if you were stuck on these stairs?" she pondered.
"If going up or down doesn't work, then sideways?" he worked out.
"And off the staircase?"
Sora looked at the picture again. The staircase was floating in white space. Escaping from the stairs meant jumping into a white void. "Isn't that dangerous?"
"Maybe, but when you're desperate, what else are you going to do? Sometimes the only thing you can do is…jump."
"Jump?" he repeated.
"That's right. Jump off the staircase. I'm sure I've taken up too much of your time Mr. Vice President. I'll leave you to your errands now." Naminé turned on her heels and started walking away.
"Hey, wait up!" he called after her.
"Yes?"
"Why don't you go back to the Student Council? We could use some extra help."
"I can't, remember? Because you're there now. Be careful, Sora, and don't get carried away now." She disappeared behind a corner. Sora rubbed the back of his head nervously and observed the painting again.
"It might not be so bad to be stuck on a staircase with Kairi though."
With each and every second he spent with her, he could tell that things were changing between them. It was the small things, like how she smiled every time he walked into the room, or how she snaked in close just to show him a document. She would rest her hands on his shoulders as he worked on the computer, and leaned in so close that he could smell her strawberry-scented shampoo. These small touches, exchanges of contact, revitalized him. They were injections of happiness in a dull past, now vibrant and coursing with color.
Sora was reviewing some documents in the council room with the other members when the door opened. An open door was no cause for concern, but the vice president felt everything slow down. He looked up to see that Riku had poked his head in. Was the council so star struck by his appearance that productivity dropped?
"What are you guys doing? Keep working!" he ordered. Everybody returned to business. Good. He turned to Riku, who was motioning vigorously with his hands to lead him outside. What could this be about? The vice president followed his friend outside. Riku kept walking, prompting Sora to match his pace beside him.
"Man, we haven't seen each other in a while have we?" Riku exhaled.
"We see each other everyday in homeroom," Sora rebutted.
"Yeah, but that's in class, that doesn't count. It's been a couple months since school started hasn't it?" Sora nodded. "Look where we are now: I'm on the blitzball team, and you and Kairi are head of the Student Council."
"We're only temp officers."
"You know what I mean."
"You sound kind of wistful there, Riku. You got something on your mind?"
Riku stopped moving and stood before an empty athletics field. They had walked all the way from the Student Council room to the outside. It was an expansive field that stretched across one and a half square miles. They were near the stands. The blitzball star leaned on a railing near the bleachers. The sun was setting, casting a nice orange tint on the green grass. "Yeah, the homecoming game is coming up soon. It'll be a big one, and everybody's expecting a win. I'm sad you guys haven't showed up to any of my games so far."
Sora frowned. "Sorry about that, it's just that homecoming is—"
"It's okay. I understand you guys are busy." Riku made a sidelong glance at his companion's cast. "Have you asked her out yet?"
"Who?" Sora repeated, feigning ignorance.
"Kairi."
"Oh her? Nah, I haven't done anything yet." It was the truth. He didn't want to force the issue by asking her out, he just wanted to spend time with her, and show through his actions how he felt about her. Something about this situation felt familiar though. He was having a raging case of déjà vu. An empty athletics field, standing by the bleachers, and a setting sun, it was exactly the same as last time when Riku asked him…
"Are you ever going to ask her out? Because if you aren't, then I will."
This was it.
This was the moment that changed everything. Even though they were under a different context this time, the situation still came about. Were some events inevitable? Sora was reminded of the time stream theory. The theory stated that changes in the timeline were only as big as a rock thrown in a river. A giant boulder could divert the stream for some time, but the water will rush around it and flow like normal afterward. Were Riku and Kairi fated for each other no matter what he did? Sora thought about it. He could answer differently and get Riku to back off, but he decided to give the same answer that he did last time, and say the same words that he had always regretted saying:
"Go for it."
