The house was silent, the only indication that anyone being awake was the light blaring from my father's office. I could see my mother in the room, signaling for me to come over with a furious look in her eyes.
Great, what did I do now? It wasn't until I approached my mother, and withstood her rants, that I realized the small smile spreading across my face.
Don't Be a Gentleman: Friendly Persuasion
It turns out that my mom was extremely mad that my dad had let me take one foot out of the house.
I'm being deadly serious right now. When she's like this…well, let's just say even my dad tries to get on her good side (and my dad is way too proud to listen to most people).
So in about ten minutes I am grounded for three days, forbidden to leave the house, and stuck with kitchen duties for the week.
I know what you're thinking, but really this is light. My mom has gotten pretty strict ever since my little adventure with Sora and Riku. It took a lot of buttering up and convincing for her to allow me to move closer to them.
Overall, I should be grateful that my punishment isn't as dire as she proclaimed it would be.
But, well…yeah, it still sucks.
The most unbearable part of this arrangement is that a certain brunette keeps coming to mind. I can't stop thinking about him!
It's unhealthy and reaching borderline obsession, but really can you blame me? After the stunt he pulled I keep having these fantasies about him kissing me and touching my hair along with my hips and-
Oops, sorry. Don't want to bore you with all the gory details…
Okay, so I've been daydreaming a lot but it's not all sappy romance! Some of them have been kind of scary actually…like the one where his Keyblade was sticking out of my chest or the ones where the darkness is swallowing me whole…
Hmmm, perhaps it's a good thing that I'm on house arrest. I should give Sora some space…for his sanity and mine. But, I can't neglect his little tangles with the darkness.
Ugh, looks like I'm back to square one. And guess who I call?
That's right, Riku. I am such a spoiled brat!
Really though, I wouldn't be bombarding him with my unfaithful presence if I didn't have any other choice. I'd call Selphie…but she wouldn't really understand anyway…
I waited until it was dark to call him. He sounded really groggy, which was weird because my analog clock read as 7:30 pm…
Since when did Riku need beauty sleep? "Hey, can I ask you something?"
"Kairi…what now?"
"Look, I think the darkness has been taking control over Sora." I chewed my bottom lip relentlessly. Talking about the monstrous force was enough to open a pit in the midst of my weak stomach. I hated talking about the darkness…and heartless. To announce the return of such formidable ills made me want to pass out.
"And?"
I groaned audibly into the phone. "Of course you knew…"
"Well, it's not that hard to spot the signs Kairi. It's been trying to get him ever since we got back."
"WHAT?" That long? How could I have missed that?
"Kairi…he never said anything to you about it?" There was a hint of sympathy in his tone.
"No. He didn't. I've only started noticing stuff now…"
"It never got this bad. I figured it was just an effect of us staying in the dark region before you brought us back. Even though we defeated the heartless a while ago, some of the darkness has taken residence in our island. It wasn't much though…so I thought he would be able to handle the attacks."
"But…he can't, right?"
I heard Riku's sigh blasting out of the phone. "I don't know. Just…I'm going to keep out of his way for a few days. And I suggest that you do the same." The way he addressed me…I had a feeling that he knew what happened at the beach…
Still, I played innocent. "Relax. I'm grounded anyway. But, we still need to come up with a plan. We can't let the darkness win!"
"Maybe later, Kairi. I'm going to bed now…"
"This early?"
"Yeah, I've been dealing with stuff too you know. You and Sora aren't the only people on the face of the planet…"
The guilt crashed into me like a meteor. "I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it. I'm over that. I just hope we can all get past this. Best friends till the end, right?"
"Yeah." I rubbed my eyes absently. "Okay, can we meet at The Gripper in a few days?"
"That old coffee joint? I suppose…"
"Thanks, Riku." He added his assent along with a couple of positive sentiments before hanging up.
I sat across my bed, my hair falling behind me and cushioning my head with its soft embrace. I pulled up the blankets before leaning back against the bed rest. I closed my exhausted blue orbs before submitting to the night…
xxXXXXxxXXxxxx
My sentence passed by in fits of despair, anguish, lust, and soap. It was such a relief to be out of the house.
I sighed deeply, practically hugging the door of the coffee joint.
"Is there something you're not telling me about your caffeine addiction?"
I jumped in surprise only to turn and face Riku's knowing smirk. "Ha ha, very funny."
Riku shrugged. He looked decent enough, though he was wearing a long sleeved sweater and his skin looked a little…pasty.
I tried not to stare. He has his issues, I'm not going to pry. "Well, are you going to buy some?"
Riku tilted his head, staring past me to size up the joint. "Actually, I would like a caramel macchiato with soy…however, I think it's your turn to treat…"
"What? I didn't think you were keeping count." I gave him a mock pout but I shelled out the dough anyhow. I deserved it after all the trouble I'd caused.
He took the green bills, giving me a nod. "That will do."
We both entered The Gripper with conviction. Even though it was a rather casual outing we still had serious stuff to discuss. It was nice to be in a calm atmosphere surrounded by ignorant customers. It quelled my anxiety…a little.
Once we purchased our drinks we sat in a booth that was mildly separated from the main group of tourists and such. I took a sip of my premium brew before turning towards the disheveled silver head (I envy his hair. He doesn't have to do anything to it, it looks good either way). "So, how are we going to do this?"
"Don't know, but I have a feeling you play a large part in it. Soak in that while you can…" He took a big gulp of his coffee.
"Even if I am the princess of light I don't think that's going to help much." I grunted while furrowing my brow. "I don't think I have enough power…"
"What are you talking about? Who said anything about power? Your love should be enough." He glanced at me nonchalantly, as if he had said the most common thing in the world.
"Love? Ha, don't make me laugh."
"I'm serious. Love is a powerful thing…it's what got me through my time in the darkness. I was able to hold onto enough light by thinking about you and…Sora." He looked away after making the confession, staring at his coffee.
"Riku…"
"Just, don't give up hope. If you fail to believe in your own light how do you expect Sora to do the same?"
I shook my head, raising my hand up to his cheek. He flinched.
I narrowed my eyes. "I wasn't talking about that." I swiftly rubbed my hand against his pasty skin, not surprised when my palm turned tan and his pale skin broke the surface, covered in a flurry of purple and blue spots.
I dropped my hand, glaring at the bruise. "Issues, huh?"
He gave me a stony glance. "Yeah, and it's none of your business."
"Riku, don't do this to me! I can't deal with both you and Sora!" I growled, crossing my arms over my chest. "I can't believe you tried to hide that!"
"Again, it's none of your business, Kairi. Let it go."
"At least let me heal it."
"No. I think it's time that we both learned to give privacy when it's due…" His mouth turned into a firm line.
I gasped. "Did Sora do that?"
"Kairi! We are done talking about this!" He stood up, his cheeks flaring red from the shouting. "Thanks for the coffee."
"Riku! Wait!" I followed him out of the store, nearly tripping everywhere I went until he stopped right in front of me.
He turned around, his eyes empty. "Only you can make him see sense. I've already tried, going past my comfort zone time and time again. However…" A ripple of darkness ruffled his hair, shaking the strands in a wild dance. "My interference doesn't change a thing. How can I expect to help Sora when I'm still fighting my inner demons?"
He smiled at me while shaking his head. "Don't worry, it's not nearly as bad as it was before. But…I can't be around Sora right now. Too much negative energy, if you know what I mean." His smile grew wider. "It's up to you, Kairi. I'll be cheering for you…"
He waved at me, signaling the end of the conversation before walking away, his steps slow and precise. Even when Riku refused to delineate the whole dilemma, anything he revealed was always the truth. He was a fairly honest person to those closest enough to be his friends (and get under his rough exterior).
If he thinks that I'm the only one who can reach Sora then it must be true. That doesn't make me feel any better about my current circumstances though.
Most of my plans have been extremely faulty lately…if I mess this up it will be more than just the end of a relationship. Everyone is counting on this, our parents, Riku, Sora, the town…
If a Keyblade wielder of light can get taken over what's to say the darkness won't try to overcome our world again? I have to be smart about this…
Hmmm, what to do when it comes to boy problems? I opened my cell phone and sighed.
Time to call Selphie…
Eh, short one today.
But then again most of these chapters have been around this range.
Thank you AnimeFan202, Singer of Water, CrazyRedHead97, lion5589, DarkestLovely, LittleKing9512, Otherguy14, and Romance addict 16 for reviewing the recent chapters!
And thank you silent readers and subscribers.
