A/N: Okay, its the Saturday before Easter that I'm typing this up (though its prolly a different date by the time its published).
Ack! SO it seems Alruna Haunted has finally entered the double digits!!! w00t!! Total awesomeness. Other than that, I dont have much to say, so lets mosey on down with the show!!!
Oh, no, wait. -slaps forehead- In case anyone else was wondering, the reason Riku is stiching himself up again is because, y'know, like Sally (from Nightmare Before Christmas) he needs to be redone once in awhile. ONe reason being sometimes the stitches get loose whenever he turns his head and looks about, etc. So, yes, there ya go. If you have any more questions, go ahead and ask (apparently this is the only one of my stories ppl get confused on, lawls XD)
Enjoy.
V3r53 +3u (Verse Ten)
Sleeping...I dream of him.
Waking as the sun sets...His image fades.
I'm always thinking of him...Until my mind grows wary and my heart aches.
The moon becomes more pure as the sky is tainted such a pretty dark. I feel him closer to me.
I pray he won't run from me. Be it from fear. Or hate. Or...disgust.
Because...
A heart can only handle one illusion.
"Sora, are you leaving?" Leon Strife asked his younger brother later that evening.
Said younger brother froze mid-action from turning the front door knob. Turning around, he saw Leon raise a brow at him in question, eyes staring him down intently.
"Ah, yes," he replied awkwardly. Technically he had yet to tell his older brother about Riku and also that was the person he was going to run off to. "Kairi and I...I'm going to her apartment for a bit, okay?"
"Well, yes, but..." Leon sighed, bringing up a hand to rub his forehead in an agitated gesture. "Sora, you couldn't have told me sooner? I sort of...had something to tell you tonight and to introduce you to someone."
Sora blanched at this statement. Dammit, he was right - why hadn't he told Leon of his nightly adventures sooner? Not only would it let him have an excuse to leave now, but his older brother would understand the urgency of it all. But, alas, Sora didn't tell him so Leon didn't know that it was imperative he got going.
The brunet released his grip on the knob. "Tell me something?" he repeated dubiously. "Who's coming over?"
Now Leon hesitated and Sora could swear a trace of embarrassment was there on his brother's face. "Thats...part of what I wanted to tell you."
Sora bit his lip, more than a little torn as to what he should do. "Leon, I'm sorry I didn't tell you before when you already had something in your mind, but..." He gestured to the door. "I really need to go."
The regular stern look came back to Leon's countenance as he frowned. "Sora whats so important with Kairi that it rules over what I need to tell you?" he asked indignantly.
"Its... well its just..." Sora exhaled loudly, almost in exasperation. "Look, Leon its really, really important. Please, please...C-can it at least wait until I get back?"
"Well, I..." Leon considered this, running a free hand through his thick brown locks as his younger brother waited for his answer as patiently as possible.
"Fine," the older said in defeat. Raising a warning finger, he reminded, "But remember - you have to come back. I'll give you a curfew. You have until...8:30, alright?"
Sora calculated the time and nodded, waving as he bolted out the door. Okay, about two hours - that should be ample time, right? Yes, plenty of time, actually. Whatever it was Riku wanted to tell him couldn't be that long... A twang of worry suddenly struck his chest.
Oh, yeah, that's right. Sora had his own theory about Riku's confession: All the touching, the kiss, the sweet words... What if it was all a facade? And that Riku perhaps liked him but didn't love-like him - wasn't in love with him.
"Ah!" Sora exclaimed, his heart skipping a beat before pulsating twice as fast. A realization came to him, one that had him blushing hard. This was...the first time he considered the possibility of Riku being 'in love' with him. Well, sure, he knew the mysterious silveret was at least attracted to him in some way - that much couldn't be denied. But...'in love' suddenly seemed like the two biggest and most confusing words for Sora's mind to wrap around.
"....How...stupid," the brunet murmured to himself. So what if Riku didn't love him? Its not like he was gonna die or something. There had been no relationship - therefore, he couldn't get heart-broken over such a non-existent and trivial thing.
Besides, if Riku truly didn't like him that way, then that was just one less thing on his mind. Not to mention the announcement - could it be called that? - that Leon had prepared for him...
Oh, he was in the outskirts of the graveyard. When hadn't he noticed the nearly bare trees and crumbling tombstones around him? Oh, well. Now Kairi had to be around here somewhere...
"Sora!" came Kairi's breathless voice behind him. He turned quickly as she ran over, waving and panting. When she was a foot away from him, she put her hands on her thighs, breathing hard. "Ah...! I was - ha - waiting for you! I got a little - heh - worried so I was all over the - ha - place!"
Sora couldn't help but smile. "Heh, obviously," he said through a chuckle. His friend's expectation was something he should've seen coming but they were a bit funny to him - especially since she went running through a graveyard to find him. "Sorry, though. Leon sort of held me up."
Breath regained, the maroon-haired girl asked, "So you're going to the church now?"
Sora nodded slowly, licking his suddenly dry lips. "Just wait at the gates for me, okay?"
"....Okay," his friend replied, crestfallen. "But...how long are you planning to stay? I mean, I'm a big girl and all - I can take care of myself out here, but..." Her voice got quieter as she went along.
The brunet shrugged. "However long it takes for Riku to say what he has to say," he replied honestly. "But, if it makes you feel better, Leon told me he had plans for us tonight. He told me to be home by 8:30, so I'll be here about...ten minutes before then." He paused, gauging for his friend's reaction as the wind blew steadily around them.
"O....Okay, Sora. I'll wait," she said, making Sora surprised by how easily she submitted and didn't insist he come sooner. He nodded nonetheless; glad to be off the hook.
"See you then, Kai-chan," he told her, smiling.
"Huh?" She blinked in surprise, her blue orbs widening. "Sora, you haven't called me that in years..." She chuckled, then, almost solemnly, she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "I hope that's not a sign or something."
"He's a normal guy," Sora insisted for the up-tenth time, placing an indignant hand on his hip.
"Yes, yes, you've informed me of that," she sighed. After another pause, she stuttered, "W-well, I...I shouldn't keep you." She held up a hand in a wave. "Bye, Sora."
He nodded, turning around towards the Kura Church. "Bye."
.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:
Yuna watches from her vantage point in her second floor window. She keeps her green and blue eyes fixated on Sora Strife's approaching form. There is no hesitation in his steps, no looking back to the woods and safe town whence he came.
Comes of his own free will, she reminds herself and closes her eyes, turning away from the stained-glass window. He comes willingly to help my master. My foster son. My reason to protect in this life. Sora Strife has come for him, not knowing what will happen nor what will be revealed and said.
"First test," she says to herself as she walks out of her room's and towards her vampire's. "He passes."
However, many of the others passed this one as well.
She paused before her master's door - only for a moment - and knocked gently. Knowing he was listening, Yuna informed, hope in her voice, "Sora Strife has arrived."
.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:
Sora halted as he stepped onto the church's stone steps, sapphire eyes widening a bit.
Breathless, he asks, "Were you...waiting for me?"
Riku Oni stood there, leaning against the church doors and arms crossed, and expression of something between contentment and happiness on his face. Sora noted how in one of his hands he held a thorn less black rose.
"Not long," the silveret assured, smiling, even chuckling a bit light-heartedly. As Sora came towards him, Riku held out the hand with the rose, meeting one of Sora's hands to give it to him. "Here, this is for you."
The flower now in his hand, Sora examined it dubiously. "Ah...it's...black," he commented, raising a brow.
"Actually," Riku began quickly, chuckling again. "It's an alruna."
"Eh....?"
"An alruna," the silveret repeated. Beckoning the brunet to him, he gestured to the dark petals. "Its not completely black - there's tingle of a really dark red and purple near the edges. Can you see?"
Not really is what Sora wanted to say, but then he stared at it and gazed at it in closer observation. "Oh!" he exclaimed in clarity as he spotted the when the flower became the slightest shades of black, to a poisoned purple, then a stained red. It blended nicely enough and Sora couldn't help but gawk at its beauty. "Wow, it's... Actually pretty," he admitted, face growing warm. Guys weren't supposed to receive flowers, but...whatever.
"Glad you like it," Riku said. "You wouldn't believe how hard it was to get it."
"Are they rare or something?"
"Well..." He got closer to the brunet, voice getting softer. "Most people wouldn't want it. It's such an odd rose, really. It's beauty allures one unfortunate enough to come across it. Old legends say that an incubus or an succubus inhabits it. You know what those are, don't you?"
Uncertainly and shyly, Sora replied, "They're some weird spirit-demon thing, I think. Don't they like...Rape a person and steal their soul?"
"Something to that extent."
With this new knowledge, Sora re-examined the rose, wondering if this was true for this one. For some odd reason, it seemed like anything could be believable around a strange person like Riku.
Seeing the disbelief on his face, Riku asked through a smirk, "So, do you still like it?"
Sora hesitated a moment. "Er..." Well, it is just a tale, he reminded himself. Plus... "You said it was hard to get, and yet you got it to give to me. And whatever legends they were - it's a legend. A long time ago." He inclined forward a bit, giving a sort of half-bow to the handsome silveret. "Thank you."
Riku cocked his head, taken slightly aback, but only smiled with happiness at this acceptance. "Would you like to come inside now? I imagine you've had the trek." He opened the doors to the church, allowing the two inside, Sora first.
It was night and the church was completely empty except for one woman who kneeled in front of a wooden bench, facing the giant cross in front of the building, on it, held the Christians' Jesus, crucified. As the pair approached the staircase, Sora recognized her to be the same young woman who escorted him yesterday and treated him so generously. Yes, same light-brown hair, cream-coloured skin and priestess attire - tight-wrapped white top, a flowing violet skirt with flowers embroidered and black boots. She sat, praying. The priestess - Riku's caretaker and foster mother.
Her hands were clasped together in prayer, eyes closed and rose-pink lips sealed together. Sora couldn't help but think that although she looked more...human - for lack of better word - than Riku, her appearance was still equally stunning. Y'know, even though she was a girl.
"Yuna, aren't you tired?" Riku asked out of nowhere.
Eyes still closed, she replied softly, "The night is young. I'm not yet wary..." Peeking one eye - a lily green one - open, she offered the captivated brunet a smile. "Welcome, Sora Strife. Be sure to tell me if you need anything, alright?"
"Ah," Sora blinked, then merely nodded as Riku quickly added his own nod - albeit a tart one - and led him back towards the staircase.
"She's...Wow," Sora found himself saying, twiddling with the alruna stem feebly between his fingers.
"Lovely sight, isn't she?" Riku concluded for him, setting himself on the bed in the room. It was recognized once again as the room Sora first found himself in about two weeks ago. Same black laces and sewn blankets, same rose-stained glass and wooden crosses. A nostalgic feeling erupted somewhere in Sora's chest.
He nodded, making himself a place next to the silveret, although placing himself closer than he previously had in the past.
This can't be all bad, I mean, if he's given me a rose, Sora noted, butterflies soaring about in his heart. Can this be what he does to me? Have I actually really fallen in love with him...? He decided to take a peek at the beautiful man sitting next to him.
Yes, as per usual, he sported another choker around his neck, and black clothing was worn all around. Admittedly, this guy was darker than any normal person Sora would've hung out with at school. Yeah, as a matter of fact, he'd probably be scared shitless - he did sort of had that intimidating look about him. Even concealed behind a long-sleeved dress-up shirt, it was obvious that Riku had strong, muscular arms, there was no hiding that. But his face, that told a different story.
His eyebrows looked like they normally didn't remove themselves from their frowning state, much like how they were now, as if deep in thought. His skin was still the milky pale as when they first met - skin kissed by moonlight. Eyes...Eyes were still that unfathomable jade - a darker green when he was angry like yesterday but...tinges of blue almost seemed to be swimming in them whenever the silveret was content or...happy, maybe? Riku didn't appear to be the type that laughed or joked often, so maybe Sora should scratch that. But they were a wonderful shade of jade...kinda like they were now...
Realizing that Riku was staring back at him with the equal interest he had been giving, Sora blushed and looked further down at Riku's pasty-white hands. Ghost-blue veins ran up it, but they were hardly visible beneath all the paleness of it. He glanced away again, staring out the window and into the growing night which had barely begun, wondering what exactly he was supposed to say. Or what Riku was gonna say for that matter, since he was the reason Sora was here!
Meanwhile, with Riku, the euphoric feelings he got as he stared almost unconsciously into those incredible blue eyes seemed so...
Unreal, he concluded. Then, internally, he prayed. Please don't let this all be another lie - another illusion. I want you. I need you. If you love me, it won't matter to you if the both of us go straight to Hell. Because somehow, we'll get through it. We'll make unbreakable promises - so unbreakable you won't help but stay with me. You'll stay forever... Sora, be real. Be real...
Thinking he should explain all this some time, Riku began quietly, "The 11th of October - that's the date, correct?"
"Huh?" Sora asked dumbly. Where the Hell had that come from? Well, I guess even somewhat aloof guys like him need an ice breaker... The brunet nodded. "Yeah, why?"
Riku put his fingertips together, eyes downcast. "Back in America - we had a custom. On the 31st of October, there was a holiday called, 'Halloween'."
Sora raised a brow, trying to ponder how this was relevant at all. "Um..."
Riku offered a smile, knowing the brunet - as a citizen of Japan - probably didn't know this Western holiday. "Here, let me explain. On Halloween, people - especially little kids - dress up all silly and scary," he said as simply put as possible and to the point. "Adults may partake in it as well, but that's beside the point. So, everyone waits until its grows dark and then they come outside, go door-to-door and get candy or whatever else the inhabitants have."
A question mark was plastered somewhere above his head, Sora knew. but hey, all he understood was that you get candy. "Um...That sounds fun," he said, trying to imagine what that'd be like.
"It is," Riku agreed, meeting his eyes, grinning. "Much more than I make it sound."
Sora nodded, wondering what it was that the silveret was driving at.
Then, he looked down, silver hair sliding down his shoulders as he hung his head, staring at his hands. Idly, he began to rub his ring finger, almost...darkly?
"I got married on that day, but here in Japan," was all he said, devoid of any particular emotion, as if the comment was just a hollow echo of something. And as the reader you'd know - it was an echo of something Riku believed was once meant to be.
Sora, on the other hand, was anything but apathetic. Blue eyes were enlarged in shock. Married?! Riku was married?! No, then why did he...? And then, he had told him that...that he loved him! No, this couldn't be true. Who was Riku even married to? The brunet shook his head, confused. "W-Wait," he stuttered, heart prepared to shatter at the response it might receive. "If...if you're married...Who am I? You're not..." Am I the person you're having an affair with...?! he thought.
"Please, Sora, I was married," Riku clarified, holding up the hand that should've had a wedding ring on it. There was a tone in his voice like he thought the marriage had been nothing, like it was a fluke.
Okay, okay, obviously he had issues with this person, Sora told himself, assured by this new information. But still...He looks so young! Why did he get married? He took another glance at the silveret, re-taking the mental notes in his head. Well, maybe he wasn't the one who proposed. I guess I can't blame his ex...Anyone would jump that bridge to be with him...
"Oh, so...alright, you got married," he said, still trying to wrap his mind against this concept.
Riku nodded. "Yes, but it wasn't a minute before the 'I do's' were exchanged that something happened," he said, tone and expression unreadable as he idly wiped the bangs from his eyes. But before Sora could say another word, Riku interrupted, "Sora, do you think that it's possible to be in love more than once? Even though your heart belonged to one person, how can you give it again to another?"
The teen blinked. Crap, what's that? Riddles? What if this was that 'only two' outcomes thing Riku was talking about? What should he say then? He made it sound like a frickin' life-death situation!
"Er...I'm sure whatever happened can be fixed," the brunet offered feebly and a bit naively.
Riku shook his head. "No, no, Sora. C'mon, think!" he insisted, taking ahold of one of his hands. The alruna dropped onto the soft mattress. "Your heart knows betrayal and pain. Your parents died. And now I want you to think about this - really ponder it: It's been some time and excluding a few tears here and there you're getting ready to let go, correct?"
"I-I...am," Sora stuttered, the highlight of yesterday reeling through his mind as Riku's face drew nearer to his.
"A heart can hardly endure one fatal blow," Riku said, hand tightening in the slightest. His voice turned sad, oh so heart-broken. "But, what would you do if, say...Your brother suddenly died?"
Sora blinked, the thought sending a cold shiver down his spine, but he didn't think any more of it as he whispered sympathetically, "Riku...what happened to you?" Sapphire orbs gazed at the other inquiringly, pleading for an answer to this question and a reason for the odd bouncing of depressing subjects.
"I...!" He paused, chest turning to ice. No, I don't want to lose it, not in front of him...!
He breathed quietly, not wanting anything to be broken - be it him or Sora. No, everything had to stay where it was - everything was good right now. He wanted his words chosen carefully, since he didn't want to see the kind brunet run away.
"If I told you my story, you...you have to promise something," he said, voice almost hesitant. "You have to promise 1), that you won't...leave until you hear the whole thing. The entire story, okay?"
"Okay," Sora rasped out, his mind lost now, along with most of his senses.
"And 2)," he went on. "That after the story is finished; you'll tell me if you love me or if you feel sorry for me."
Feel sorry? the brunet thought, brows furrowed. "Riku...you're confusing me," he said, hoping Riku wouldn't lash out by him saying so. Quickly, he added, "You're scaring me a bit, too, but...I won't go. I won't go until I hear your story." He made himself comfortable on the bed, crossing his legs and facing the other intently.
Riku smiled, half-assured "Thank you. You're kind, Sora."
He leaned closer, but then glanced at the lone alruna lying among the black expanse of blanket.
If you wanted to put it in an analogy, the reader would have already concluded what the rose exactly represented.
If Riku was to the alruna, then his need to love was the incubus. And if this was true, then the soul taken by the incubus would be to Sora's mortality.
But it was thorn less. Riku took the time to pluck each and every one from the stem until it was bear, clean and vulnerable. It couldn't harm. Riku didn't want to be the rose, as alluring as it was. He wanted to be the stem, the thorn less stem that would never harm Sora. That wanted to love Sora...
Because those horrid thorns... Riku thought darkly. Those are my lies.
He proceeded to look back at Sora's concerned, scared, and innocent face. So innocent...
Yuna, who was standing outside the doorway but out of sight, said to herself as quietly as possible,
"The second test," she began, walking toward the staircase to continue praying, "Starts."
Reality is ugly.
But maybe you'll change my mind...
...If only you were to stick with me once you knew...
And saw past my thorns.
The moon rises ahead.
.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:
Me: Angst, angst and more meaningless angst!!!
GAH!!!
I'm sorry... -bows- For some odd reason I feel the story drags a bit. I pray that's only just me. -looks around-
The next chapter is going to come out sooner, I expect since I followed the advice of a friend and made an outline. It'll be simple enough, I suppose xD So after the next chapter, we hit the ground running, the climax approaches!!! -determined face-
The stuff in italics I made up. Sorry if it's so corny. I was writing this chapter down in my notebook and on the side I was drawing pix of Riku with these words around him. I figured I'd add them in...xp
Gomenasai, Kagzii-san! -bows- Albeit the cookies were tempting - OH SO TEMPTING!!! - I must stick with my plan. -sobs- Once a month, gomenasai!
-peeks- Am I worthy of a review?