If it Never Happened: A slice of life take on what the Kingdom Hearts characters from the FemSora universe would be going through if the events in the game never existed.
Author's note: Just a reminder to readers, I want you guys to know I take opinions into effect. I like hearing suggestions and opinions on fics and if you guys have any requests or things you want improved don't hesitate to bring them up with me. Not just with this fic but with all my stories. I live to serve!
Chapter 10: Light Blooms, Shadow Looms
Even though summer had hit the islands, the school yard was still bustling with students participating in summer group activities. Though Sora hadn't joined any clubs or teams she showed her support to those that did. Today she sat on the bench watching Kairi play tennis. With one tournament won, she was up for another trophy so training was a big part of her day to day activity.
"You're looking great, Kairi." Sora offered her a water bottle and Kairi took it and drank with big thankful gulps.
"Mmmm thanks… I still have a lot of work to do, but I'm feeling more than capable. How are things with Riku going? You've been dating for a week now, any problems in paradise?" Kairi sat beside her and rubbed a towel over her sweaty skin.
"Actually…no." Sora gave a shy smile and rubbed the twin stars dangling on the end of her long braid. Riku had kept the pendant she had made him, and in return had made her his own symbol. The hair tie was perfect, and Sora already treasured it. "I keep expecting something to happen… but everything's great. I feel like we've really restored our friendship on top of all the other benefits."
"That's great to hear." Kairi smiled brilliantly. "I always knew you two were meant to be together. You've always been close… though for awhile you had me worried with the whole you and Axel thing."
"I worried myself actually. I really do like him, Axel that is… and he taught me a lot about relationships and what it would mean to be someone's girlfriend. I hope to take his teaching to heart. I just wish he'd have his own happy ending. I want Roxas to be happy… but her relationship with Terra makes me nervous."
"Hmmm? Why's that?" Kairi took another swig and looked out towards the soccer field. There Terra was engaged in a scrimmage game with his other teammates and dominating the field in the process.
"It's hard to explain." Sora followed her gaze across the field and she narrowed her eyes. "Terra's a nice guy, and he's a lot like Riku in some ways… but there's something about the way he acts around Roxas that makes me nervous. It's like he's… possessive."
"Oh I don't know, I always thought he was very protective of her. Could be he's just a little unnerved or jealous that Axel's still lingering around his girl." Kairi thought about it… and frowned over it. "Hmmm… actually I see your point."
"Riku gets jealous, but that doesn't really bother me, because I don't and never have wanted to be with anyone else… but Roxas… I think she's still hung up on Axel. The way their relationship broke off doesn't sit right… and I think things could really go sour if she's not careful."
"You're just worried about Roxas, am I right?"
"She's my sister, of course I worry." Sora pulled her legs to her chest. "More… I've got this chill under my skin. Something's gonna happen… and I just know it's gonna shake things up."
The ferry from the mainland docked at port, and a pair of long lean legs strode across the gangplank and turned waiting for their cargo to be loaded off. The legs were paired with a lean athletic body, a young woman just starting to bloom, subtle curves accented by tight black jeans, t shirt, and leather jacket. Fingers were tucked into a pair of biker gloves and a helmet covered the eyes that scanned the island.
"What a dump…" the cool female voice sneered. She grunted as her motorcycle was rolled off the ship and she flipped out money to tip the loaders. "Well at least the staff is efficient… carry on boys." She strapped her small bits of luggage into the side pockets of the bike and straddled it. Revving the engine she skidded away from the docks and proceeded to take the fast tour of the island.
What she saw, didn't impress her in the least. The technology here was slim to none, no cell phones, no computers, and if they had TV it probably had 10 channels at best. Her mother had wanted to punish her… but banishing her to hillbilly island was too much in her opinion. Still it's not like she had any place to go. She'd have to adjust… and find new ways to occupy her time.
She pulled in front of the house she'd be staying at and swung off just as Sora and Kairi came down the walk.
"Hey, someone's at your house Sora." Kairi pointed out, Sora's eyes immediately going to the figure. The Bike, the attire, and just the way the figure moved had Sora's face going deathly pale.
"Oh no!" Sora ran for the house with Kairi calling out and chasing after her.
Roxas opened the front door to the figure.
"Yes can I…. oh god!" Roxas too went pale and went to slam the door only to have the biker slam a fist up to hold it open.
"Now that's just rude, Cuz." Vanita removed her helmet with her free hand and gave her cousin a sly smile. "That's no way to say hello to family."
"You're no family of mine!" Roxas shouted trying to close the door and squeaked when Vanita just shoved her back and started to stroll in. She grunted when Sora grabbed the back of her jacket yanking her out then positioned herself between Vanita and Roxas.
"Don't worry Roxas! I'll protect you!" Sora put up her fists glaring.
"What? You still mad about that whole setting your pigtails on fire. We were just kids, guys. I've matured." Vanita smiled again her golden eyes gleaming.
"Kids or not it was bad! It took Roxas a whole year to grow her hair back!" Sora shouted at her, with Roxas cowering behind her at the memory. "Venus said you were still causing trouble, and got yourself kicked out of school!"
"That's because the kids at my school are weenies and can't take a practical joke. It's thanks to them that I'm now stuck living on this island til I graduate."
"Living here!?" both girls shout in shock.
"Relax,,, I'm not staying with you, losers. Your mom is supposed to be introducing me to an old friend of my mom's who's gonna "whip me into shape" She held up her fingers in quotation. "However you will be seeing me all the time, particularly when school starts."
She waited a few more beats and sighed in aggravation.
"Will you just move already? I want food and I'm not gonna stand here all day in this stupid sun!" She shoved Sora aside making her tumble into a bush and brushed past Roxas who knelt to help her up. Kairi who had stayed back during the confrontation knelt down to help as well.
"Great, just great… I knew something bad was gonna happen."
"Why? Who is she, she kinda looks like you Sora only… meaner." Kairi looked through the empty doorway, muffled voices of Sora's mother and Vanita coming incoherently from inside.
"She's our cousin, Vanita. She and her sister Venus are also twins… Venus is sweet and gentle… but Vanita… how should I describe her?" Roxas bit her lip fingering her hair protectively. "She's trouble."
"She's more than trouble, she's evil!" Sora sat cross legged trying to get the sticks and brush out of her hair. "Every time we visit them and our Aunt Eraqa she always pulls some stunt to make our stay miserable. She calls them pranks, we call them acts of evil."
"Now she's apparently staying on the island til graduation. That's a whole year and a half of dealing with her so called pranks! I don't buy for an instant that she's changed."
"It makes me wonder what exactly did she do to get herself thrown out. Venus only said she was causing problems… she was exactly specific on that notion."
"Venus is too nice to talk bad about her. Just because she's her sister she's always making excuses for her. It's pathetic really. You don't see me making excuses for Sora's lame brain ideas."
"Hey… true but HEY!"
Roxas gave a little shrug and then glanced back, she heard Vanita smooth talking their mother into fixing her lunch. "Well I'm not gonna stick around to be her victim. I've got a date tonight. I'm gonna go to the little island until then."
"I'll go with you," Kairi offered with a smile then looked to Sora. "You coming."
"You guys go ahead, Riku and I will probably meet up with you then." Sora went inside, shook her head at her mother's laughter and jogged the rest of the way up the steps. Her cousin knew how to smooth things over… whatever it was that got her sent here must have been real bad. She'd have to get ahold of Venus and find out exactly what that was.
Later on after she'd tracked down Riku the two of them headed to the island where the bulk of the group were enjoying the summer beach. Most of them wore swimsuits and trunks, but Sora wanted to her best to avoid swimming for the time being. She'd had too many close calls as of late to warrant the activity. Still she enjoyed the ocean, let the water dance at her bare feet as she collected shells with Riku, the two of them talking about this and that before the discussion of her cousin came up.
"Vanita… isn't that the one who set Roxas on fire?"
"It was her hair, but yeah." Sora knelt down and skimmed fingers over the waves as it kicked away sand and shell. "I don't know as I like having her here… but now that I've gotten a chance to calm down and think about it… this is the first time I'll be around her without Venus close by."
"Is there significance in that?" He knelt down in front of her touching her hand with his. He smiled watching her cheeks going light pink at the contact, but she didn't pull away.
"Vanita… I called her evil… but that's not exactly right. She's more vengeful than anything. She's super protective of Venus, the two of them are twins like Roxas and I but whereas Roxas and I have a kind of friendly relationship, Vanita takes her love for her sister a little far. She hurts whoever gets too close to Venus, or does her best to pry them apart, even if it makes Venus resent her in the end."
Riku let go of her hand and stood shifting some. That comment was hitting a little too close to home. He recalled the times when he'd done his best to pry Sora away from her other friends, made her mad or even hurt others trying to protect Sora.
"So you'll wonder how different she'll be when she doesn't have her sister here to protect."
"I want to give her the benefit of the doubt, because she's family. However, I'm gonna keep a close eyes on her." She stood up with him hands full of shells and the waves kicking around her feet. Riku found himself getting lost in her bold blue eyes, and couldn't resist snatching the end of her braid where his charm he'd given her lay. He brought it up to his lips and kissed it making her blush.
"We both will."
Sora said nothing for a moment, letting the romantic gesture stir feelings inside. She felt the rush of heat in her cheeks and the rapid beating of her heart, and wondered why it had taken her so long to notice Riku in this light. Why had it taken her so long to understand his feelings for her, and hers for him.
"Hey you two love birds!" Wakka called out across the beach with Tidus at his back. The call snapped Sora out of her daze and she looked in their direction. "We're all going to the mainland for pizza. Wanna join?"
"Yeah!" Anxious to rid herself of the embarassment she set the shells back on the beach and ran towards them. She circled once looking back at Riku smiling big and waving. "Come on, Riku! First one there gets to pick the toppings!"
Riku sighed, though the moment as broken there was still a light in his heart at watching her smile and wave at him. One step at a time Riku… he told himself… you have her, all you have to do now is keep her.
"No Onions!" He raced after her.
Vanita eyed the large intimidating mansion with a kind of wary solace. A shiny prison was still a prison, but of all the beach bum houses she could have ended up on this tiny island she supposed it would be the best case scenario.
She parked her bike beside a town car that looked more like a hearse than a limo. She felt a cold tickle at the base of her spine as she opened the door to the place… and stared a bit wide eyed at the inside. Wow… whoever lived here was loaded. The place was filled with antiques, paintings, memoirs, and she was pretty sure anything she touched was worth more than her bike… in some cases more than her soul.
She sat down her bags and eyed an odd looking sword behind glass.
"X-blade…" the raspy old voice made Vanita jolt inside but she did her best to remain composed and slowly turned to face her caretaker. Vice Principle Xehanort strode up, arms behind his back and slightly bent at the waist. "An old legend that I'm sure you've heard before."
"Yeah, a little, mom used to tell my sister and I that story when we were kids. The blade was said to open the door to all words. Warriors both light and dark forged blades in its likeness fighting to harness or protect the door and the light. This started a great war which cast the worlds into shadow and broke the blade into 20 pieces… blah blah blah." she nodded her head. "So is this supposed to be that blade?"
"A copy of its likeness according to the tales. I keep it behind glass to signify its importance and possibility." He stepped up beside her admiring the blade with her. "Eraqa and I heard this story when we were children as well, and it was our favorite tale and dream… though while she dreamed to be a protector and warrior of light, I dreamed of being able to see and explore all worlds."
"You're a lot older looking than I expected." She said it bluntly making him chuckle.
"Perhaps but don't let my age fool you child. I'm not a pushover like your mother." He leaned in looking her up and down, he grabbed her hands turning them over and nodding. "You behave, you'll be rewarded… misbehave and I can think of many things that will put those strong hands of yours to use."
Chores? Was that the best this old geezer could do? She was sure she could sweet talk him into anything she wanted.
"Yes, Sir." She said it with a little sarcastic bite.
"You're not the first rebellious young teen I've taken in under my wing. My young ward is about your age, and I'm sure the two of your will get along swimmingly."
"Young ward?"
"Master Xehanort… I'm going out with- Vanita!" Terra froze halfway down the steps as both heads turned to face him. Vanita's eyes lit with surprise before a sly smirk spread on her lips.
"Well, well, well, look who it is. Hello Terra."
"Ah, that's right. You're originally from the same town as Vanita aren't you Terra?"
"I.. that is…" he squirmed shoving his hands in his pockets not knowing what to do with his hands. "Yeah… I know her. We had classes and...such together before I moved here."
And such… Vanita mused with a glint in her eyes. The guy hadn't changed a bit… all hard and stony but easily embarrassed and flushed.
"Looks like we'll be living together for the time being. I'm looking forward to it."
Terra averted her gaze and cleared his throat.
"Right, well… I've plans so if you'll excuse me." He hurried out, forgetting his business with Xehanort, and made a quick escape.
"Your ward, you said?" Vanita asked Xehanort who was chuckling at the brief meeting. "What happened to his parents?" Though she asked her eyes still looking out where Terra had disappeared.
"They died shortly after moving here. If I'm not mistaken it was the same storm that put your cousin Sora into her coma. They were out fishing in the sea and couldn't get back to shore in time before the storm hit." He explained. "I offered to take him in after the tragic event and we've found an agreeable situation that suits us both." He started heading up the steps still talking, "He's a good lad and since you two seem to already know each other I'm sure you'll get along just like siblings."
"Oh no…" Vanita whispered under her breath. She felt the old flutters and fires inside that reminded her of when the two of them had been "and such," and let them fiil her up. Perhaps living here wouldn't be as bad as she thought if she got to see Terra everyday. "I see him as anything but a brother."
I guess some of you saw Vanita coming, but as to what kind of part she'll play, that is something left to be expected. Venus may make an appearance later on or stay as a sort of off screen reference. I'd like your opinions on who else you'd like to see make an appearance and what couple arcs you'd like me to include and give attention to.
Next Chapter: Axel makes a move