This fic is officallly Sora x Riku. Don't be mad, my SoKai peeps. This first story arc (yes, there'll be a second) doesn't have a concrete couple. Please stay aroudn for the end...Pretty please?
I get the feeling some of you are wondering why there's so much focus on everyone around Sora, and not much mention of Jack or Boogie. Don't worry, they'll be taking over very soon.
Roxas showed up a few hours later. He snuck into the house through the servant's entrance and crept up the stairs to his room. Just as he reached his room, he heard a voice. "Hey."
"Ah!" Roxas nearly jumped out of his skin. "Sora!"
"Shh!" Sora said. "Mister and Misses Burton are asleep."
"You know they're your parents right?"
"I know…But it's still weird. Did you enjoy your concert?"
"Yeah! Uh…" Roxas held up a t-shirt. "I got you something."
"Huh?" Sora took the shirt. "Thanks!"
"So uh…I'm sorry about before. I guess I was a little mad about staying home."
"I understand. I could tell you really wanted to go. I was just mad that you weren't being honest with ."
"Dad." Roxas corrected.
"D-Dad." Sora said, bashfully. " I know I should call him that, but there memories are still a little fuzzy….Anyway, good night Roxas. You have school in the morning."
"So do you! Well, kinda."
That Monday, it was visitor's day at Burbank. Potential students and faculty were allowed to sit in on classes and walk around the campus. Between classes Roxas tried his best to introduce Sora to his friends and pass his brother off as normal. Sora was happy to meet them, yet not very pleased. Something about the building made him feel ill. He recalled not feeling too good on his first visit, but it felt as if whatever had bothered him last time had now intensified.
Out of respect he was trying not to read the emotions of others, something he had been told not to do many times. In the past few days, it seemed as if he was doing it unconsciously. During the first class, he could feel the nervous tension in the room. He could tell which students were paying attention and which didn't care to be there at all.
Once they entered the main hall, the feelings converges on him like a tidal wave. Too many emotions swirled through the building and before Sora knew what he was doing he was running, trying to get away from them.
Sora stopped when he found himself in the school's library. It was large and three floors, but very few people were around. He zipped down his white and black hoodie, revealing his visitor's pass, and walked further into the place.
As it was a visitor day, all students were required to wear their uniforms- A burgundy sweater vest, striped tie and beige slacks. Fashion had not been taken into account when the uniforms were designed. Even so, it made it easier to differentiate them from visitors.
Sora stopped walking when he found himself in the history section and saw Riku sitting in the corner. The teen was surrounded by books and didn't look up as Sora approached. "You want something?" Riku said turning a page.
'He doesn't know who I am yet…perfect!' Sora put his hood on and jumped in front of Riku with a wooden stake. Riku looked up then. "Stop that Sora, a guard might see you."
Sora took off his hood, looking defeated. "One day Riku…One day."
"Mmhmm…" Riku closed his book. "You left your tour?"
"I didn't mean to." Sora said looking around. "It's just very painful out there. It's a lot calmer in here."
"Painful? What do you mean?"
"Are humans your age always so...Miserable? Angry? Apathetic? They're weird."
"They're teenagers." Riku said, running a hand through his hair. "They're always that way. Hormonal imbalance, puberty, television. All the above are the cause."
"Oh. What a scary combination." Sora shivered. "It's very suffocating."
"You're a empath all of a sudden?"
"Huh?"
" You know, a person who senses other people's emotions?"
"Never heard of that. I just know that holiday being scan sense feelings because holidays exist to even out the emotions of mortals and shape them into good people."
"….Uh huh…"
"There you are!" Kairi appeared. "You disappeared Sora, you-" She looked at Riku. "Oh…Hi Riku…" She grabbed Sora's arm. "Come on! It's almost time for lunch!"
She dragged him back to the classroom just as class was ending. Then Roxas pulled him aside when the bell rang. "Sora, you can't be acting all weird at school. Now, in a effort to save your nonexistent reputation, I'm going to introduce you to my friends, and have you sit with us during lunch."
Sora looked passed him to the group of teenagers straggling behind that appeared to be his 'friends'. They chatted idly all the way to the large cafeteria, filling Sora's head with unimportant drabble. Jus as they were going to sit, Sora spotted a table of strangely happy individuals, reading comic books and playing video games.
'They seem kinda fun…' Sora was wandering towards them before he knew it. Roxas gave him a sharp tug on the arm. "Sora! Where you going? You have to sit with us!"
"Oh." Sora looked back at Roxas' table. "Well, no offense Roxas but…" He leaned close to his younger brother and whispered. "You're friend are kinda boring."
Roxas, taken aback, sputtered a "F-fine then…" And walked back to his table. Halfway through the period he glanced over to where Sora had gone. The table know had a strange array of Nerds, Goths, and jocks with Sora at the center.
"So there I was, in Thanksgiving land and the natives and the settlers were attacking the giant turkey…It had eaten to wigwams and smashed four houses. I prayed for victory with the warriors and used the mayor's axe to cut the turkey open. Took me like, four swings."
"Whoa…"
Roxas shrugged. "Well, I guess he's okay after all."
When they returned home from school, Roxas and Sora played basketball with Ventus. After an hour or so he sent them back to the main house so Roxas could do his homework. The bell rang, and Roxas headed to the door.
"Who's there?" Roxas said over the intercom, he could see their visitor through the monitor. It was a bald tan man with golden eyes. He was hunched slightly and wearing a suit that was a little too big.
"My name is Dr. Norton. I was hired by Mr. Burton to see about his son, Sora Burton." The man's voice was scratchy and gruff.
Roxas frowned. ' Dad didn't tell me about any shrink.' "Hey Sora!"
"Yeah?" Sora said, running into the entryway.
"Did Dad get you a shrink?"
"I don't think so."
"Sorry man." Roxas said into the intercom. "Call Mr. Burton and come back."
"May I come in to make a phone call then?"
As innocent as it sounded, Roxas was still wary. "Sorry no strangers allowed."
"Please?"
"Have a nice day bro." Roxas walked away. "UNCLE VENNNN!" He walked back to the guesthouse. "UNCLE VENNNN!"
Ventus greeted him at the door. "What's the yelling about?"
"Some weirdo was at the door. Said he was hired by Dad to fix Sora."
"As far as I know, he didn't. You didn't let the guy in, right?"
"Nope. He was a total fruitcake."
"Good.I'll tell Terra."
That night Terra and Aqua announced they were going ahead with their holiday neutral party the night before Thanksgiving.
They were sitting in the dining room when the announcement was made. Dinner was taking a while, so Terra walked to the kitchen to find out what the problem was. Sora followed after him. Since Thanksgiving was right around he figured he should try to spend more time with all the Burtons. The 'Boogie nightmare' had caused him to remember random events from his childhood. However, they seemed more like dreams that memories, as whenever he tried to remember the visions slipped away.
The cooks were hastily preparing the meal. Terra looked from them to his son.
"Now Sora, I'm inviting my partners over to this dinner party. You must not make a scene-"
"Partners? You mean like domestic partners?" Sora gasped. "Does Miss Aqua know about them? Are you cheating on her?! You better not-"
"I am not romantically involved with my partners!" Terra yelled, just as Aqua walked into the room. After a very uncomfortable conversation occurred between the three of them (With the kitchen staff giggling in the background) Dinner was ready.
Jack and Sally continued to watch over Sora with Santa, while the Boogie trio tailed them and reported back to Oogie Boogie. He seemed pleased with Sora's progress, even though Sora appeared relatively normal.
The week passed in a blur. Finally it was the day before thanksgiving. Sora woke up that morning with a strange headache. It was as if he were in a lucid dream. Everything seamed real, yet unreal. That night, before the Burton's party, Kairi was having one of her own. The theme was 'Indians' and 'Pilgrims' with guests dressed as the former or latter. Roxas and Sora snuck into Kairi's party with Ven's assistance. Ven figured they should have some fun with kids their own age before the party.
They arrived dressed as pilgrims, to a highly offensive native American costumed Kairi. "Like, Hooow, you guys?"
"Hey!" Roxas walked in. Sora walked in after him. 'I don't think any of the tribes dress like that…' The house was full of teenagers as it had been the last time. However, this time Sora had no choice but to feel what they were all feeling. Despite all the laughter, dancing, and drinking, there were bitter feelings swirling all around. He walked straight through the house to the back porch, almost walking right into Riku. "Sora?"
Sora clutched his head. "Ow…"
"You're not high are you?"
"No." Sora sat down on the back porch, getting a weird sense of déjà vu. "I'm on the ground."
"Empath thing again?" Riku asked.
"Uh huh." Sora held his head in his hands. "Usually I can control it, and its just fear. I don't know why it hurts so much."
"Well your parents' party is gonna start in a little while right?" He patted Sora on the head. "You'll be back home before you know it." He peeked through the door. Roxas and Axel were dueling with turkey legs. "I'll stay out here with you, if you like."
"Thank you." Sora said, not looking up. "That'd be nice."
"Riku?"
"How come you're so nice?"
Riku shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe because I spent more time watching Mister Rogers than most children."
"No." Sora groaned. "I mean it. Like, you don't seem as cloudy as other people. Like you tell the truth all the time."
" Dunno. It just come naturally I guess."
At eight Kairi's party ended as many of her guests had to go with their families up to Burton Manor. Roxas and Sora left early and changed into formal dinner attire, matching pinstripe suits. Riku and his parents were in attendance, as where Kairi and hers. Axel was also at the party, with no supervision. Refreshments were being served in the hall. After an hour they moved to the bigger dining room. The table could seat a small army.
Sora found the environment a bit stuffy. It was not as bad as Kairi's party, but there were still enough feelings to keep him uneasy. It felt as if there was a constant buzzing in his brain. Instead of dwelling on it, he studied his father's guests. All of his friends looked just like their parents. Riku's mother also had Snow white hair and blue-green eyes. She almost looked to be the same age as her son, which scared Sora a little.
After a few courses, Sora's head began to really swim.
Santa, Jack, and Sally watched as Sora began to sway back and forth over his dinner.
"He doesn't look good." Sally remarked.
"The change is coming soon." Santa Claus said, crossing his arms.
"Maybe we should go get him-Bend the rules a little?" Jack said.
"No." Santa shook his head. "We cannot. All we can do is hope he changes for the better."
Sora blinked several times. It was a little past eleven and guests were starting to leave. Soon only Riku, Kairi and her grandmother, Axel , and Terra's partners were left. Riku's parents had left on 'urgent business'.
Exhausted, Sora tried to cut a slice of cake with a steak knife and cut his hand. "Ow!" It hurt more than it should. And along with it came more emotions from the guests. He stood and wobbled out of the room, with Terra tailing after him.
"Sora." He followed him into the kitchen.
Sora leaned on the counter. "I'm sorry Dad…I didn't mean to…It hurts.."
Blood dripped from a gash on the back of Sora's hand.
Terra took a cold rag and wrapped it around Sora's hand. "Don't worry about that son. Just think happy thoughts while I go get some bandages."
"Okay."
After his hand was wrapped up, Sora returned to the foyer. The remaining guests were grabbing their coats and getting ready to leave.
Sora felt a lot better at that point. He started to wave goodbye to them, just as the clock struck twelve.
Sora immediately felt sick all over again. He clutched his chest and his eyes went wide. The clock rang twelve times for the hour. With each ring Sora felt worse. It was Thanksgiving.
His eyes rolled back as he crumpled to the floor, his body writhing in agony. He rolled around on the floor, screaming. A dark mist wisped around him. His limbs grew big and black until his entire being was filling the room. All of his memories flashed through his mind.
Sora's family and friends watched with horror as he turned into a huge monster.
"That's it." Jack said. "The dark side."
