Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts.
Authors Note: I know. I haven't updated since forever XD. Senior year is busy! Wow, that is weird. I am a senior. I graduate in 32 days. CRAZY! any who, just wanted to remind you folks that I do have a web page that I do update my status on. That way you aren't ultra confused as to where I am. This should be the longest chapter up to date. My chapters are usually 30 notebook pages long. This one was 50. It has a lot of fluff in it too, so I hope you guys will enjoy that! After this chapter we take a deeper dive into the murder of Wakka, so I also hope you guys are looking forward to that! If there is anything you guys want to know about any of the characters in the story other than the main ones, tell it to me with a review! Alright, enough of me rambling. ONTO THE CHAPTER, AMRITE?
Genderless...One without a Gender
Chapter Fourteen: Nightmare and Nemesis
It's been a month since the volleyball game against The Ducks. My foot is nearly healed too! We only made it three more rounds in the tournament, but that was good enough for us! Since we lost, I now have my weekends free once more. Things have faded back into their regular routine.
All of us were hanging out in Tidus and I's dorm. Sora and I were playing cards in my bunk, Riku was weight lifting, and Tidus was looking at things on the Internet. What things, exactly, I do not wish to know. In a nutshell, things were back to normal.
"Guys!" Tidus yelled. "You gotta see the jugs on this girl!"
...And whether that's a good thing or not, I have not decided yet.
"For once," Sora spoke as he place a queen of hearts in our pile. "Let's not look at porn when we hang out."
"Thank you!" cheered Riku.
"Wait," I blinked. "I wasn't the only one who didn't like that?" These boys may have some hope!
"No," Riku laughed. "We liked it, Kai."
"We just want a change of pace," concluded Sora.
...Scratch that.
"Plus," Sora pointed to a calendar hanging by my bed. "Kairi's almost been here for five months. We need to celebrate!"
"Has it really been five months?" Tidus asked. "Time sure does fly."
"Seems like yesterday," Riku added.
"And so much has happened," I said. It's true too. More has happened to me because of this case than I could have ever imagined.
I got hit on by just about every boy in school (which would be awesome if I were dressed as my own gender), ran into my sworn enemy and old childhood crush...
And then befriended him.
...And then made out with him.
Had a boy, who also happened to be Sora's practical identical cousin, find out I was a girl (except not at all), made out with Sora while he was drunk, has Selphie over for an unexpected Christmas gift, be Riku's Valentine date, find out Sora doesn't like Namine (anymore), make out with Sora, again, in front of Seifer.
And, oh ya, the rest of the school.
We won a volleyball game on a twisted ankle.
Best of all, I met a great group of friends, both boy and girl, who make my life purely great on a daily basis.
Yep, a very eventful five months indeed.
"You know what hasn't happened?" Sora threw down a five of clubs. "A celebration!"
"Alright," I laughed, throwing down a pair of fours. "What does Mr. persistent suggest we do?"
"Well," Sora threw a three down innocently. "The carnival just so happens to be in town and-"
"You just want to go and you're using my five month anniversary as an excuse, aren't you?" I smiled, laying down the rest of my deck.
"Pretty much," Sora smiled.
"Well, I don't mind," I said.
"Sounds fun," mentioned Riku.
"Better than looking at Ms. December," Tidus closed out of a browser window on his computer.
"How about tomorrow?" I suggested. "It's a school holiday, after all."
"All in favor?" Sora raised his hand. The rest of us followed. "Great! Tomorrow it is!"
"I haven't been to the carnival in forever," Tidus gleamed.
"I can't wait to ride the roller coaster," Riku smiled.
"I can't wait to," I said. Suddenly, I looked at Sora and I felt my face turn red. "C-Can't wait to eat all that food!" I fakely exclaimed. The boys all cheered and rapidly began discussing plans for the following day.
Suddenly, I have a bad feeling about tomorrow.
"Four student tickets," Riku said to the counter lady, flashing his best smile. "Please."
The way Riku said please wasn't the regular way people say please. In fact, it's more of a command than a question or polite saying. It could make any woman drool long enough to let Riku get inside of their pants.
"Here you go, sir!" The girl, probably no older than us, smiled brightly. "You have a fun day!"
"No," Riku leaned over the counter. "You have a fun day, madam."
I looked behind us as we walked away. "Do you do that to everyone to get inside of places for free?"
"No," Riku answered. "Of course not."
"He obviously won't do it if it's a boy behind the window," Tidus rolled his eyes.
"Ya," Sora followed.
"Duh, Kai," Riku grinned in conclusion.
"I expect no less from the three stooges," I mumbled. We stepped inside the gates on the carnival and I couldn't help but be amazed by what I saw. "Woah!"
It was amazing! People were roaming under the long legs of circus clowns while waiting in line for various foods like cotton candy, funnel cakes, and much more! Beyond the entering crowd and arrangement of booths and games was a menagerie of rides and shows, just like you'd find at a full blown amusement park. "This is bigger than any carnival back at our town!" I commented in awe. "Better too."
"Oh ya," Sora patted my head. "I forgot that this is your first time here."
"You should have been here when Cirque Du Noir was here last year," Tidus beamed. "It was so much better than this!"
...Better? What could be better than this!?
"Look who it is," someone hugged me from behind. When I tried to turn to see who it was, they covered my eyes with their glove dressed hands. "Ah, ah, ah!" The voice tisked. "You gotta guess first!"
"Yuffie," A deeper voice said from close by. "What are you doing to that poor, defenseless boy?"
"You ruin all the fun, Leon!" Yuffie pouted. Then she went over to the tall boy and punched him 'playfully' in the arm. Good thing he has muscles to spare or that would have really hurt!
"Hey Yuffie," I smiled, containing my laughter towards the comedy pair. "Leon. I assume you are all here with Tifa, Aerith, and Cloud?"
"How did ya know?" Yuffie gandered.
"Just a lucky guess," I laughed. Or, you know, detective work. Same difference.
"Speaking of," Leon tapped Yuffie on her shoulder. "We're supposed to be getting them drinks, not flirting with pre-pubescent boys. Stop getting sidetracked."
"But it's fun!" Yuffie jumped.
"Too bad," Leon grabbed Yuffie's hand. I'm sure she's having a field day. After all, she does secretly like Leon.
"Aww man," Yuffie pouted as Leon dragged her away. "I wanted to be alone with Squally pants."
...Minus the secret part.
"It looks like everyone comes out to this thing," I commented.
"If they are here," Riku noted. "Then the other girls are probably here too."
"I wonder if we'll run into Namine," Tidus nudged to Sora. "How are things with her?"
Oh no! They never heard that Sora likes another girl now! Then again, they weren't dressed up like their non existing twins sister on Valentines Day and didn't over hear Namine's semi-love confession. Either way, I must stop this!
"This is not the time for questions!" I interrupted. "We need to decide what to do first!"
Oh ya. I'm good. Totally suave.
"That's easy," Riku laughed.
"Of course we'll all pick," Tidus started to say.
"The water show!" Sora exclaimed.
"What?!" The two other boys said.
"That thing is for little kids," Riku insulted. "Let's ride the roller coaster!"
"No way, man!" Tidus rejected the idea. "Haunted House all the way!"
"Um, guys?" I spoke up. "Why don't we try the Hall of Mirrors?"
"Stop!" Sora shouted loudly. "There's only one way we can settle this!"
"...There isn't any alcohol allowed in here," Riku casually mentioned.
".....There is only two ways we can settle this," Sora corrected. "Rock, paper, scissors! Winner gets to do their stuff first!"
Our group agreed upon the plan in a murmur of "Sounds good," and "That works with me"'s. After many a game of paper covering rock and scissors cutting paper (etc, etc), our agenda for the day included the following order:
-Hall of Mirrors (Suggested by me!)
-The Roller Coaster (Suggested by Riku)
-The Water Show (Suggested by Sora)
-The Haunted House (Suggested by Tidus)
..Let the games begin?
The Hall of Mirrors. It's a place of confusion. A place where the sea and sky meet. A place of mystery and darkness. It's a place where one can learn to discover their true selves, but most importantly-
"I can't believe them!" I groaned while I turned another corner into a dead end.
...It's the place where the gang ditched me. Now I am stuck trying to find my way out of this self suggested hell hole.
"If I see one more reflection of myself, I am going to puke," I moaned. Despite my pleas, the next corner was a dead end and I was face to face with, well, my face. "This sucks!" I pouted and placed my hang on the mirror. I stared at my identical self and suddenly began to look at myself.
'I haven't taken a good look in the mirror since I became a boy,' I thought silently to myself.
A year ago I had slimming legs that glistened in the sunlight. Now there are two stumps in baggy pants in their place. There is a polo shirt where a tight fitting tank top would be and a pixie styled hair cut where my former long locks used to sit. So much has changed with my body that I almost didn't recognize it.
"But my face..." I touched my face in the reflection. It's still the same. Sure, there isn't any make up to bring out the best features about me, but I still have the same feminine face I was born with. It was oddly refreshing to discover this fact. 'How have I fooled so many people so far?' I thought once more. 'Surely there must be someone out there wondering why a fifteen year old boy hasn't hit puberty yet.'
'And these things,' I let my fingers brush against my chest shortly. 'They aren't going to stay under binding forever. One day they're going to grow larger and I'm going to be discovered."
"Hopefully I will have solved this thing by that time," I mumbled out loud. "And then this will all have some purpose."
Realizing that I have been standing in this one area for far too long, I turned around to try to find the exit. Instead of finding my face to face with another reflection of myself, I found myself standing right across from a certain spikey haired boy.
"Sora," I gulped.
Sora stared at me with intense eyes. They gave off a look I had never seen before. It was a look of disappointment and sorrow. Was I the one who caused such a look? Did he hear what I said just now?
"Sora," I trembled. "I can explain," I told him as I slowly stepped towards him.
Sora looked down and put his hands in his pockets. He was no longer looking at me or even acknowledging the fact that I was there. My heart sunk.
"I wanted to tell you," I stepped another step. "But I didn't want you to react-"
Sora then grabbed his cell phone and held it up to his ear. Huh? Is he really calling someone right now? I thought this was supposed to be the big dramatic turning point in the story where Sora finds out all my secrets and I go cry in the corner like the little girl I actually am.
"..Like this?" I questioned.
"Yeah," Sora spoke to who was on the other line. "I can't find Kairi anywhere." Pause. "I know! He could get lost in a paper bag!"
...Thanks. Not only was I on the brink of confessing to a reflection, I apparently have no sense of direction. I'm just that awesome.
"I'm going to wait for a few more minutes, Riku," Sora spoke. "Maybe he'll find me." Pause. "No, Tidus. We will not have a lovers reunion and ditch you guys."
I think this is what the Internet calls a 'LOL' moment.
"Go ahead and save us a place in line for the roller coaster. We'll catch up later," Sora hung up. His face was red. I wonder what they said to him.
I stepped towards Sora's reflection and touched it gently with the tips of my fingers. He had to be nearby if I could see him like this, but not near enough for him to see me. Oddly enough, this scenario describes or relationship. I'm right by Sora. I can find out his past, discuss his dreams, and gossip over his darkest inner most secrets. I can touch Sora and his life just as I am touching this reflection burned onto this mirror.
"But," I whispered out loud. "He can never know me." As long as I am in this school pretending to be one of it's male students, I can never let him touch me. He'll never fully know my past. I can't discuss my dreams with him and most importantly, he must not know my deepest, darkest secrets of my life. As long as I am male, he can never grasp who I really am.
"Not as long as this mystery goes unsolved," I looked up into Sora's mirrored eyes.
Not like it matters. I am supposed to have a penis. Sora's into boobs and all that junk.
"But that hasn't stopped us before," I smiled. It hasn't stopped us from listening to music or playing cards up in the secret world of my bunk bed. It hasn't stopped the jokes we share or the tricks we play. But most importantly, it hasn't stopped me from loving him like I do right now.
I placed both of my hands on one side of Sora, making my body a living frame of his teenaged reflection. Without me even thinking, I leaned forward.
Twice wasn't enough. I want to touch his lips once more. Even if it's just a replica. I want to kiss him.
"WOAH!" I yelled as I stumbled through Sora's mirrored self. I looked up to find Sora texting on his phone. It wasn't a reflection this time.
"There you are!" Sora put away his phone. "I was wondering if you died in there. What took you so long?"
I looked up around me to see an arrangement of rides and booths. I guess my feelings had indirectly led me to where the exit was. "Directionally impaired, I guess," I blushed in embarrassment.
"Are you okay, ma'am?" A carnival worker came over to me. "That was a bit of a fall you took."
Ma'am?!
Sora gave me an evil grin as he placed his arm around my shoulder. "My girlfriend is fine," Sora kissed my cheek. "She just easily gets flustered. Come on, baby, let's go find the others!"
"Sora," I blushed even further. "I hate you."
"Love you too," Sora winked.
"Kairi," Sora asked me. "Are you scared?"
"Why are you grabbing the bar like that?" Riku smirked.
"Why is your face so pale?" Tidus poked.
"I'm not afraid!" I managed to exclaim. It's not like Riku decided to pick the tallest, fastest, and only roller coaster in the carnival that makes you sign a waiver. It was that coaster that we were in line for at this very moment.
Nope. Not scared at all.
"BUT!" I said in attempts to change the subject. "While we are on the subject of questions, why don't we ask each other some to pass the time?"
"A game of questions, huh?" Riku pondered out loud. "I'm in."
"Me too," Tidus agreed.
"This line is at least half an hour long," Sora nodded.
"I'll start then!" I smile happily. "Tidus, how did you get into Blitzball?'
"Man," Tidus leaned against the line bar. "It's actually a funny story. I used to hate it. I would always see kids practicing it or see adults watching it. It got to the point where I hated when someone even mentioned Blitzball. Then, one day my mom bought me tickets to a professional game."
"And you willing went?" I asked.
"No," Tidus cracked his knuckles. "She said that if I didn't go with her that she would tell my father about my secret porn collection."
"Oh," I awkwardly replied.
"Once I was there in the stadium, my opinion changed completely," Tidus smiled, lost in his nostalgic thoughts. "I fell in love with the atmosphere. The cheering fans, the sound of the players fighting over the ball in the water, and the happiness that surrounded all of that made me realize why people around me celebrated and praised the sport so much. I not only changed my opinion about the sport that day, I also decided that in the future I, also, was going to be a blitzball player."
"It's nice to have a dream like that," I smiled softly.
"Kairi," Sora nudged me. "Don't smile like that. You look more like a chick than you already do."
Thanks?
"Speaking of which," Riku interrupted. "Chicks. What are all of your ideal types?"
"I'll go first," Tidus volunteered. "Since we're already on me anyways. My ideal girl is happy. She's cheerful and optimistic, but knows how to be sexy when it comes down to it."
Selphie, much?
"You next, Riku!" Tidus suggested.
"Me?" The suave silver haired boy questioned. "Well, she's shy and timid, but has a certain spunk about her."
Gag me.
"And she's also really cute," Riku slightly blushed.
Gross, gross, gro-
"Me next!" Sora said. "My ideal girl is unique and has a baby face. She gets flustered easily, especially when I tease her, but when it comes down to it, she'll share a smile that is meant just for me."
I slowly blushed. He even moved me by that. This new girl that he likes better realize what a lucky gal she is!
"Your turn, Kairi," Sora said.
"Well," I started to say. Wait..
Wait a minute!
I don't have an ideal girl!
I AM A GIRL!
"Oh, well, um.." I stalled for time. "My ideal girl is-"
Sora.
"Brunette! She's gotta be brunette!"
Like Sora.
"With blue eyes!"
Also like Sora.
"And she's gotta," I paused to think. "Make me feel like I'm number one."
Just like Sora.
"You two do realize," Riku pointed out to both Sora and I. "That you guys completely just described each other."
"What?!" We both exclaimed in unison. "We did not!"
"I'm not gay," Sora raged.
"Neither am I!" I added.
"Sure," Riku grinned. "Sure you aren't."
"Me thinks," The devilish Tidus leaned in between us. "The ladies doth protest too much."
"Next question!" Sora continued the game after the brief interruption. "Kairi, where did you get that necklace you're always wearing?"
I looked down at the exposed necklace that is usually tucked in my shirt. The unisex locket around my neck is the one thing I refused to part with during my transformation from girl to boy. "My dad gave my sister and I matching one's before he died," I told them. "I mean, we were three at the time but it's one of the few gifts he left us. So, we cherish them deeply," I smiled.
"Kairi," Sora gave a sympathetic look.
"No!" I became a bit flustered. "It's okay! It's been years. Besides, this locket has a lot of important memories behind it. In fact, it's how me and Kairi," referring to my girl 'twin'. "Met Selphie."
"Oh?" Tidus perked up at his love interests name.
"Yeah," I laughed. "In first grade, a group of kids stole it from Kairi at recess. She kept crying and begging them to give it back, but they wouldn't. You know how kids are. Then Selphie, who we didn't know at the time, started kicking and slapping the leader of the thefts until he gave it to her. The next thing we knew, she came over to us and put the necklace back around Kairi's neck. She wiped away her tears and said, 'It's okay. You don't have to cry anymore.' We all have been friends ever since."
"Touching," Riku snorted.
"Alright, Mr. Tough guy!" I exclaimed in irritation. "Your turn! Why is a big shot like you couching, of all sports, volleyball?"
"Football is too competitive," Riku shot off like he has told this speech a thousand times before. "I don't find enjoyment in hitting a ball with a stick and soccer was full. I wouldn't be caught dead playing volleyball, so I decided to be the student couch instead."
I wonder how much of an indirect insult that was.
"Hey, look at that!" Tidus pointed ahead and distracted us. "We're here!"
"Wow," I grinned, stepping back. "Time sure does fly when you're having fun?"
"Are you still scared, Kairi?" Tidus laughed as he got into the first cart. "This ride isn't bad at all!"
And Hitler only wanted to show the Jewish people his pizza oven. Oh, did I strike a nerve?
"Don't sweat it," Sora said confidently as he sat down in the second cart. "I haven't ridden this one before either."
Riku and Tidus grinned their infamous devilish smirks. The next thing I knew, Riku has picked me up from under my arm pits and placed me in the seat next to Sora's. "Then I'll let you two love birds suffer through this one together."
"Lovers suicide?" Tidus laughed.
"Pretty much," Riku hopped into the seat next to him before I could change my mind (like I would).
"Welcome to the Electric Dragon," the unenthusiastic park worker stated over the intercom. "The tallest carnival crazy coaster in the East. Please buckle your safety belts properly and have a wonderfully safe trip on the Electric Dragon."
"I think he could have mentioned the word safety just one more time," I laughed nervously as the ride started up. "What about you, Sora?"
Silence.
Sora looked down at his feet and tightly grasped the bar in front of us. He looked like he was in deep thought.
A million different thoughts started pouring into my mind. Was I annoying him? Did he not want to sit next to me?
Did he really hear what I said back in the Hall of Mirrors?
"Sora," I began to explain. Then, all of a sudden, as we approached the top of the first hill, I noticed his knuckles were turning white from the tight stress of his grip. Then, something the brunette said to me rang in my head.
"Kairi, are you scared?"
"Sora," I asked softly. "Are you scared?"
"Of course not, Kairi," Sora laughed confidently as he raised his head up. "Why would I be-"
We reached the top of the hill. If one looked down and around, they could observe the carnival below them in a very miniature form. We had to be several hundred feet up in the air.
"Okay," he quickly grabbed my hand for support. "Maybe just a little."
"I won't laugh at you if you scream," I smiled as we started rolling down the slope at great speeds.
"I was going to either way," Sora yelled at the top of his lungs as he proceeded to do just that.
"Good boy."
"That wasn't so bad!" Sora exclaimed as we sat down for the water show.
"Yeah," Tidus laughed. "Tell that to the last twelve trash cants you barfed in."
"Hey!" Sora yelled in an offended tone of voice. "Don't you go spreading rumors like that!"
"Exactly," Riku nodded.
"It was only eleven," I smirked.
"..You guys are horrible friends," Sora pouted.
"We try," Riku grinned.
We all laughed in our spot on fifth row from the front. It was time to see the water show! The stage was a giant arena of water in which the audience could see above or directly at the animals, depending where they sat. Since we were in row five, we had a little taste of both.
Now, I only know what the boys told me, but apparently this show is a sea animal circus. Flipping dolphins, performing whales, cute sea otters, the works. But what the guys really want to see is...
"Mermaids!" Tidus pointed to an obviously costumed park worker. She was in a mermaid outfit, along with about five others, entertaining the guest before the show began.
"The pre-show mermaids are always ridiculously hot," Riku smiled pervertedly.
'Skanks," I thought to myself.
"Is it weird," Sora spoke up. "That I really want one of them to be dressed up like Ariel from The Little Mermaid?"
"Only slightly, vomit boy," Riku commented.
"She's one of the most famous fictional sea creatures alive," I added. "I don't honestly blame Sora."
"I used to watch the movie all the time when I was little," Sora smiled. "I even used to want to become a mermaid myself, even if was temporarily, so that I could have some fishy fun and sing songs with her."
"Pfft!" Tidus cracked up. "Like that would ever happen."
"Yeah," Sora laughed too. "Only in some sick fantasy world would that ever happen."
"Oh look!" I pointed to the stage as the lights started dimming. "It's starting!"
"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls," the famous intro played from the overhead speakers. "Hold onto your umbrellas because Ocean Earth Productions is about to blow you out of our waters!"
The lights were going crazy and flashing different colors. Even the lights in the water were flashing. The stage area looks like a mysterious party that everyone couldn't help but want to join. Lights bounced off of every corner and made the audience's heads turn in wonder. It was a great sight to see.
"Now," the announcer continued as epic music started playing. "Put your hands together for our hostess for today, Adella!"
"That's one of Ariel's sister's names!" Sora gleamed.
So says the secret fan boy.
"Hey y'all!" A perky brunette girl came out in a wet suit. Her hair was in a high voluminous pony tail and her locks were decorated with pearls. "Welcome to Ocean Earth's Water Show! We travel all across the country so we can bring you excitement with our enchanting sea animals! This is our third year here and we are excited to be back! Who is excited to have us back?"
The audience was full of cheers. Little kids stood up and jumped while the adults cheerfully gleamed at the memories from their past. Even some jocks in the audience were standing in appreciation!
"Awesome!" Adella continued. "Now, we ask you not to video tape our show. If you want to watch us again, you can purchase a video at the end of the show. Also, no flash photography please. Our animals are sensitive to the lights. Now then, who is ready for our first show with the otters?!"
The audience exploded with cheers of approval. The next half hour was filled with many creatures, the most exciting being the otters, penguins, and dolphins, but like with any grand water show, the best is always left for last. Of course, I am referring to the-
"Do y'all think it's time for some whales?" Adella smiled brightly as the crowd let out the largest cheer yet. I had to cover my ears from the loud amplitude of human voices shouting around me. "Great! Let's get started then. Come on out, Sebastian!"
Suddenly, from out of no where, a large killer whale swam up with a trainer sitting on it's back guiding him. Peaceful music filled the arena and the trainer did a flip off of Sebastian's back. The trainer and Sebastian descended into a dive together. Sebastian caught the trainer and pushed the young boy straight up out of the water like a rocket, using only the connection of his nose and the trainer's feet. The trainer kept a pencil like form as he descended back into the water.
Then, Sebastian and the trainer started swimming in unison. They performed a ballet under water, doing a series of turns and flips. At the very end, the two slid up on the water like stage, the trainer using Sebastian's back like a surf board, and Sebastian's tale waved to the audience.
If I thought the cheers from before were loud, I was sadly mistaken.
"That was beautiful," I couldn't help but say.
"Now, for our next act we will need a volunteer from the audience. Who hasn't seen our show before?" Adella asked.
"HE HASN'T!" Sora, Tidus, and Riku stood up and pointed at me while they tried to make the most noticeable movement out of anyone in the audience.
Not like that is suspicious or anything.
But who cares. I'm never picked for these-
"YOU!" Adella pointed in my direction. I pointed to myself in confusion and mouthed the words 'me' in questionable form. "Yes, you!" Young man, come out on stage!"
The audience applauded in such a way that I couldn't help but be swept up along with the atmosphere. I handed my things to Sora and found my way to the front stage.
"Great!" Adella gave me a helpful hand up. "Now, we're using you as an example to show that anyone in this audience today can become an Ocean Earth trainer if they really wanted to!"
..Fantastic.
"What is your name, dear?" Adella held the microphone up to my face.
"Kairi," I managed to say.
"Trainer Kairi is going to show everyone three simple tricks for Sebastian to perform," Adella put her well polished hand on my shoulder. "First, let's try making Sebastian speak!" Adella put the microphone down for a moment and told me, "Okay, make a fish and twirl it around in a counter clockwise circle."
With a hesitant look on my face, I made a fist with my right hand and twirled it in a circular motion. The next thing I knew, Sebastian let out a beautiful whale like cackle.
Wow, this is easy!
"Great job!" Adella threw a fish into Sebastian's mouth. "Now, let's try something a little harder for Kairi to do!"
Adella put down the microphone once more, placed the palm of her hand on the arch of my back, and whispered to me, "Pretend you have a ball in your hand and underhand throw it to the trainer over there," Adella pointed to a man in a similar wet suit as hers. "Sebastian will go over there and do a flip."
I nodded and did so. Sebastian immediately swam over to the trainer and did a 10 our of 10 style flip for the audience.
This is a lot easier than I thought! I turned around to Adella to find she had made her way off the stage. "Now," Adella said from the audience. "I'm going to let Kairi do this trick on his own. Since this is his first time, we'll end with something easy and fun! Let's make Sebastian wave goodbye! Kairi, wave to Sebastian and he'll wave back at you!"
"Okay!" I cheered, really getting into it. I raised my hand high in the air and waved to Sebastian. To my surprise, he waved back. In face, he started waving so much that he started splashing water. The next thing I knew, Sebastian has splashed me with enough water to knock me back and completely soak me from head to toe. I looked out into the audience to see everyone laughing and my so called friends grinning evil smiles.
They were in on it! All of them! It was a set up!
...FML.
"Sorry about that, Kairi," Adella finished her laughing as she got back on stage. "That's a trick we play every show. Let's give him a big cheer for being such a great sport!"
Bitch, I don't want a cheer. I want a towel.
"And for being such a good sport," Adella continued. "We're going to give you this free Ocean Earth t-shirt with Sebastian on the front. If anyone wants this shirt, they can buy it at our Ocean Earth stand after the show!
I jumped down off the stage and threw off my old, wet T-shirt (Don't worry. I had a man tank underneath. No boobies were exposed) and replaced it with the one they gave me. I sat down next to my laughing friends to realize that my pants were still soaking wet.
Double FML.
"I'm cold," I mumbled. "You guys are cruel and mean."
"We didn't actually think you'd be picked," Riku honestly told me.
"Sorry Kairi," Tidus smiled sheepishly.
SORRY WILL NOT DRY MY PANTS, DAMN IT!
"Here," Sora handed me something. "Wear my jacket until you dry and warm up. I don't need it anyways."
"Thanks," I blushed, slowly placing the jacket on as we all continued watching the rest of the show.
..Maybe it wasn't so half bad after all.
There are three things I hate in this world above all other things, the first of them being the common fear of spiders.
"Hey look!' Tidus pointed. "A wall of spiders!"
"Sick!" Riku exclaimed. "It looks like they are really moving!"
...The second is coffins.
"Did that coffin just move?" Sora asked.
"I swear I just saw a hand pop out," Tidus whispered.
...
....The THIRD thing on my list is Haunted Houses.
"This Haunted House is a lot better than last years!" Tidus stated.
..You don't have to say it.
"isn't there a maze coming up?" Riku asked.
"If it's like last years layout," Tidus said. "Then yes."
"That maze is so creepy," Sora shivered. "It's all spotless white from floor to ceiling with only the strobe light's glow to guide you."
"And the clowns!" Riku exclaimed.
...Okay, there are four things I hate in this world.
"With the chainsaws?" Sora confirmed.
Five. Why the hell am I here again?
"Hopefully Kairi doesn't get lost again," Tidus laughed.
"Yeah," I mumbled. I think the atmosphere of Haunted Houses are different for each gender. Boys seem to only want to be grossed out and/or scared. They rate their time on the amount of times their hearts started racing or nearly stopped. Girls, for the most part, seem to go into Haunted Houses to prove themselves or test their courage.
"Tight!" Sora yelled. "That ghost is actually floating!"
..Or peer pressure, of course.
The sad fact is that I am male Kairi at the moment. I can't show these three how scared I am right now. I already get teased enough.
"Here we are," Tidus approached a door. "The infamous maze."
Goody.
Riku pushed open the door to the room. Just like they said, it seemed to be made up of pure white floors, ceilings, and walls. strobe lights were going off, giving it's guest a sense of disturbance and uneasiness. Worst of all, the ground was shrouded in fog, letting all the unknown creatures of the night use it as it's personal playground. But, strangely enough-
"There isn't anyone to scare us?" I asked the rest.
"Not now," Riku stepped forward and started leading our group through the halls of white. "They are most likely hiding around corners."
A man covered in a sea of blood jumped out at us. The space where his eyes would be was replaced with two burnt holes of darkness.
"Like that," Riku continued walking, unaffected by the man. "The good stuff is just head I think."
And that wasn't good?!
I went to scratch my neck in an act of pure nervousness. When I did so, something felt empty. No, not empty. Missing.
"My necklace!" I exclaimed.
"What?" Tidus turned around.
"I must have dropped it back at the bloody man," I told them. "I'm going to go back and get it."
"Okay," Riku told us. "We'll go on ahead. Just don't get lost again."
"Hey," I stuck out my tongue. "I learned my lesson once already. I won't make the same mistake twice."
I turned in the opposite direction of the group and made my way back to the bloody man. Since it was still day time outside, the Haunted House was relatively empty. There wasn't any crowds to push through and fight against.
I found my way back to the man covered in blood. I had to laugh at the fact that he was sitting there checking his cell phone. I guess since he is the first scare, he only has to listen to the sound of the door opening. The guy saw me and quickly tried to put his phone away in enough time to scare me.
"Don't worry," I told him, now unafraid of his appearance. "I just dropped something back here. I won't tell on you."
The bloodied man nodded and went ahead, giving me the space to myself. I bent down in the fog and searched around a bit before coming upon a circle shaped object. "There you are!" I spoke to the necklace as if it were my lost child. "I didn't want to lose track of you." I placed the locket inside my back pocket and turned around to go back to the group.
Now, where was that again?
I creeped down the hall hesitantly, sure that the gang was just around the corner.
They weren't.
Was that hallway just there a moment ago?
I took a deep breath. 'You're just not good with mazes,' I told myself. 'Calm down and you'll find them.'
But..
..Where am I?
I thought I just turned this corner...
My breath became and raspy. My hands, from what I could tell, started breaking out in a cold sweat that continued to the rest of my body. The only sound I could hear was the sound of my own heart beating.
Where is everyone?
In the heat of my panic attack, my vision started to become blurry. Was I crying? I couldn't tell.
These hallways are awfully white. I can't tell what is up and down or understand my current location. My sense of danger had risen but there wasn't anything I could do to calm myself down. With every flick of the flashing strobe light, my panic level rose. If felt like screaming but nothing was coming out.
Where am I?
It's just like that time at the hospital. Christmas day. The halls were as white as the snow outside. A lost little girl in hallways that were not built for people of her size. She looked around aimlessly, just as I am. She didn't know where she was or where anyone else was either.
Mommy? Daddy?
It's just like that time. The halls were so huge in comparison. It was easy for her to get lost. The halls were so white that each corner looked the same. Each wall looked like the last. Backwards was forwards and up was down. She was trapped. The little girl had become another victim of those suffocating hospital halls. A maze of white hallways and a little lost girl on Christmas Day. What a sad tale, indeed.
Where is Daddy?
She finally found her mother in a room similar to the hallways. It was white and clean, but at the same time it was strangling and uninviting. Her mother was crying. She had never seen her mother cry before. Her teeth her clenched together and her body was shaking. Streams of tears poured down her face like a waterfall of sorrow.
Mommy? What's wrong?
The lifeless body of the little girls father in that same color white. White room, white bed, white sheets. Her father could now join that color wheel. He was white like everything around him. His body was cold.
Why is daddy sleeping?
White.
He looks so cold.
I hate the color white.
Why are they putting that sheet over him?
Hospitals. A place where the living check in and never check out. Those who enter are a victim of the dead.
Why isn't Daddy answering?
I hate the dead.
Daddy?
Hate?
Why Mommy? Why isn't he answering me?
My heart started beating at a rapid speed. My vision blended in with the pure white halls of the Haunted House. I felt dizzy. I lost all sense of feelings.
Tell me. Why?
Please save me. I can't breath.
The little girl's mother whispered to her through her veil of tears and loss.
Thump. Thump.
'He's dead,' she told her.
Thump. Thump.
'He's dead, Kairi.'
These halls are suffocating me just like that hospital so many years ago.
You're lying.
Why am I shaking so much. Am I going to end up just like him?
'You're lying to me, Mommy. Tell her Daddy! Tell her she's lying!
Dead?
Let's go home and open presents, Daddy!
Dad, you're not dead, right?
Daddy?
Dad.
Daddy!?
Thump.
Kairi?
Thump. Thump.
Answer me.
Thump.
Kairi?!
.....
"KAIRI!"
I screamed as loud as I ever had before. I was still in the white hallways of the Haunted House.
"Oh God," Sora bent down and embraced me. Was he the one calling me? When did I end up on the floor? I'm soaked in my own sweat and tears. Did I just have a panic attack? "You're as white as a ghost! What happened?"
I guess I did. I had a panic attack.
I grabbed Sora's shirt collar out of sheer desperation. "Hold me," I managed to mutter as I collapsed into his strong grasp.
"Do you want to see a doctor?" Sora asked. "You're drenched and freezing cold."
"No," I told him. "Just be here with me. I just need to calm down a bit."
"Kairi," Sora said sympathetically as he stroked my hair slowly.
"I'll be fine," I whispered to him.
Now that I have you.
"I am so sorry!" I apologized. "I should have mentioned I have a fear of Haunted Houses!"
Sora and I were making our way over to Riku and Tidus. We had gotten out of the Haunted House safe and sound.
"You had me worried sick!" Sora told me sternly. "I thought you were dying for Pete sakes."
"I'm sorry!" I told him once more. "I'll make it up to you some how."
"Make it up to me by never putting you or myself through such worried ever again," Sora turned around and smiled at me.
"Deal," I smiled back.
"any who," Sora turned back around. "Tidus and Riku are right over-"
"Do you think it's working?" Tidus asked Riku. The two were sitting on a bench, competly unaware of Sora and I standing just a couple of feet away.
"It better," Riku said. "We've been trying so hard to get those two together all day."
Sora and I exchanged odd looks of confusion.
"They should just stop denying their feelings for each other," Tidus calmly said with a nod.
"They'd be a lot happier that way," Riku nodded.
"Who are they talking about?" I whispered to Sora.
"I believe they're talking about us," Sora blushed uncontrollably and avoided eye contact.
I blushed too.
Wait, WHAT?!
"Sora is bi," Tidus stated. "He has to be! I mean, he's never been that close to any other boy before. At least not like that."
"And Kairi can be read like a book," Riku added. "He has to be totally gaga over him."
"I'm going to kill them," I mumbled as I started walking my way over to them. "I swear I am."
"Wait," Sora grabbed my hand and stopped me. "Why don't we play with their minds a bit?"
"Play with them? I asked in confusion. Sora smirked and pointed to my hand, which was currently in his possession. "OH! Okay, I get it. Let's do it."
Sora and I walked over to Tidus and Riku, hand in hand. "Speak of the devils," Riku smiled. "Wait a minute, are you guys holding-"
"Yes," Sora said seriously, trying to hold back his obvious amusement over the situation.
"Sora just asked me out just down," I looked down bashfully.
"And now we're a couple," We both said in unison.
"Really?!" Tidus stood up and smiled in excitement.
"No, you moron!" Sora let go over my hand and cracked his knuckles in an attempt of intimidation towards Tidus.
"Just because two guys are close does not mean they dig each other," I glared, crossing my arms.
Except in my case where I am madly in love with the boy.
Then again, I'm not actually a dude.
"So," Tidus sat back down bashfully. "You over heard us, I'm guessing?"
"Yes," Sora glared.
"We did," I finished.
"And you are in for a world of hurt!"
"MOMMY!"
How do I get myself into these messes?
Let's go on the Ferris Wheel!
Sounds fun!
Oh, the sun is setting!
We're going to look like a carriage of flaming homosexuals!
Lucky us! It's Blind Love!
And now I am surrounded by a bunch of women waiting in line to go on the Ferris Wheel with a random person to enjoy a romantic sunset ride.
Go. Me.
Let me explain more for those who are lost or may be confused. We had completed our list of tasks for the carnival and decided to ride any carnival main attraction next: The Ferris wheel! We arrived at the ride area and realized the sun was setting. as Tidus, Sora, and Riku were worried about looking completely gay going into a cart together, I pointed to two separate lines forming in front of the giant wheel, one consisting of females and the other of males. Turns out that the carnival holds a special event at sunset called "Blind Love". They separate the genders and then randomly pair them together as they get closer. Then, they force the two strangers, one boy and one girl, to ride the Ferris Wheel during the sunset.
Apparently it's supposed to be romantic.
And where am I, the genderless person of the bunch, to end up, you ask?
With the women.
Because I can barely convince anyone that I am a boy.
I tried and failed.
So, here I am.
How many times today has my gender been mistaken?
"Miss," A carnival employee tapped my shoulder. "Your cart is ready. Your mystery man waits for you inside."
"Great," I sighed, stepping into the vicinity. "You all do realize I am a boy, right?"
"Oh, you're funny," a familiar voice rang from inside the carriage. "Come on honey," Sora poked his head out and smiled at me. "Don't keep everyone waiting!"
"We're sorry sir," The employee bowed his head and apologized."If you want to be moved to the male side we can arrange that right away."
I imagined another girl inside the cart with Sora. The sun was setting and the two strangers laughed at the awkwardness of the impending situation. Then, they looked into each other's eyes and sparks start flying. The two lean forward and-
"NO!" I secretly raged. "I'll go. I know him personally so it won't be awkward or anything. Besides, I don't want to hold up the line anymore than I already have."
I hopped inside the cart and sat oppositely from Sora. How predictable was that? It almost seems Sora was the only person I went to this carnival with today and that Tidus and Riku stayed home.
"Sorry that everyone has been calling you a girl today," Sora laughed.
"It's okay," I had to laugh along. "It's not the first time."
"But still," Sora looked at me. "It must be discouraging at times."
"A bit," I looked out the cart windows at the carnival scenery. The dancing clowns and juggling jokers seems so far away up here. "But it's okay. Really."
Girl..
"Hey Sora?" I asked.
"Ya?" Sora asked back.
"Are you lying to the other guys when you say you like Namine?" I bluntly asked. I knew the answer, but that was as girl Kairi. Boy Kairi needed to confirm this fact.
"What do you mean?" Sora seemed surprised by my sudden question.
"What I mean is," I said. "Do you still have feelings for her?"
Sora paused and looked out the window with me. "I don't know anymore. It's hard to get over the girl you've adored for a good year, but my feelings for her aren't strong at all anymore."
"Then why lie to Riku and Tidus when they talk about her?" I questioned further.
"Are we playing twenty questions?" Sora laughed nervously. "It's just better for them to live in past thoughts of lies rather than trying to explain my future mind set."
"Meaning? I pushed more.
"I don't want them to ask questions," Sora said. "They'll ask me who.."
"Who what?" I became curious.
"What about you, Kairi?" Sora changed the subject.
I became confused. "What about me?"
"We always talk about our love interest," Sora referred to Riku, Tidus, and himself. "I had Namine, Riku has your sister, and Tidus has Selphie, even if he won't admit it. But the thing is, you've almost never talk about who you like in great detail."
'That's because it's you, dumb ass,' I thought to myself.
"Who is your brown hair, blue eye love interest?" Sora pestered.
"She," I started to say. "She..."
"She?" Sora asked.
"Honestly?" I said. "It's far too complicated to even start explaining."
Which is true.
"That's why I don't talk about her much," I smiled. "I would just rather avoid the questions."
"Understandable," Sora smiled softly.
A large boom, similar to a gunshot, startled the mood. When we both went to look up, we saw fireworks setting off in the distance.
"Oh wow!" I stood up and leaned against the Ferris Wheel cart rail. I looked out the window in wonderment. "I always see fireworks at night but never at sunset!"
"Ya," Sora stood up and stood next to me. "They're really pretty."
I didn't dare turn my head. Sora and I were so close that our arms were touching. Neither one of us tried to build that personal bubble back up either. We both just sat there and listened to the rhythm of the blazing fireworks and the beautiful melody of our hushed breaths working together in a natural symphony. I barely noticed the heat from our touching arms.
"Hey, Kairi?" Sora asked, eyes still fixated on the colorful arrangement of sparkles.
"What is it?" I practically whispered.
"Do you ever wish," He paused. Sora turned towards me, forcing me to do the same. Our noses were inches away. I could feel the heat from my blush fill my body. No, that wasn't a blush. It was Sora's warm breath warming me up. Have we ever been this close before?
"Wish what?" I could barely mutter after the moments of silence that lasted forever.
Sora finally popped what was left of the bubble and took a step towards me. Our faces were now centimeters apart and I had a front row seat to Sora's piercing blue eyes. "Wish that you were born differently?" Sora finally finished.
His question perplexed me. "If I were born different," I told him. "I wouldn't be the person I am today."
Sora laughed. "True," he replied, stepping backwards and sitting down in his previous seat. "If I didn't like my life the way it was right now-"
"-You'd want to start over?" I finished.
"Yeah," Sora chuckled. "I guess our feelings are mutual."
"I guess so," I also went back to my cart side.
"Hey, Kairi?" Sora asked.
"Hey what?
"Let's not tell Riku and Tidus that we ended up together," Sora commanded. "I would rather avoid that teasing fest from them."
"Understandable," I laughed.
"I got stuck with Paine!" Tidus exclaimed. "She already hates me enough from the Rikku and Yuna incident. It was such a painful ride!"
"Well, at least you knew your girl," Riku sighed. "My chick was a nerdy otaku girl that didn't do anything but blush at me and mutter something about bishie's. Now that's what I call painful."
It had turned dark now. We were all discussing today's events from my lack of directional skill in any type of maze ever to the biggest cup size on the pre-show mermaids. My thoughts, however, were in a place somewhere else entirely.
What was Sora talking about before? Wishing to be born again? To be born different? It doesn't sound suicidal, but something has happened to him. He wants to change in a way that he can't. That much I have figured out from my detective skills. Or maybe it's because I understand his situation far too well.
Or, just maybe, it was because I love him?
Who knows.
"Hey, look!" Tidus pointed eagerly. "A fortune telling booth!"
I looked in the direction Tidus was pointing. Along with several other booths in the area, there was a booth covered in purple velvet. It was more like a tent than a booth. From inside you could see the glowing light of candles. The booth, basking in the light of the new evening's moon, seemed oddly welcoming.
"Do you actually believe that crap?" Riku asked in dismay.
"Hey now," Tidus pouted. "Sometimes they're true!"
"And sometimes they are set up to rip naive little boys like you off," Riku pointed out.
"Give the guy a break!" Sora said. "It's part of the carnival feel. Even I do them from time to time."
"I kind of want to try it out," I softly spoke.
"Three again one?" Riku smiled in defeat. "Fine. We're on our way out anyways. I don't see any reason why we can't go and visit it. It's cheap and on the way."
"Yay!" The three of us cheered in unison.
"Me first!" Tidus ran into the curtained booth. The three of us looked at each other with a slight look of amusement planted on our teenage faced.
"What do you think Tidus' prediction will be?" Riku asked shortly after Tidus' entrance to the forbidden booth.
"Probably something corny like 'You're life will be filled with bliss!'" Sora laughed.
"Or maybe," I added. "'Good things come to those who wait.' You know, something cliche like that."
"No, something more realistic," Riku thought out loud. He openly pondered with a stern and serious look on his face. "His has to be something like 'Two faces are not more than one.'"
"Deep," I laughed."
Tidus quickly rejoined us with a smile on his face. "What did they say?" Sora asked in curiosity.
Tidus cleared his throat and began speaking. "I will have an active future filled with riches-"
"Typical," Sora laughed.
"I knew it was a rip off," Riku snorted.
"-And a woman I love," Tidus glared. "But I may have to battle with sin to get there."
"Sounds lame," Riku laughed once more. "I've gotta try this. It'll be a good laugh later." Shortly there after, Riku entered the curtained area to see what the fortune teller would say about his upcoming future.
"Doesn't believe in it my ass," Sora chuckled. "His has got to be something great. It'll be a fantastic ego booster for him."
"Like," Tidus thought out loud. "Your looks will take you far."
"Or, or!" I chimed in. "Beauty is soul deep!"
"No," Sora shook his head. "More like 'You are the triple threat of life'."
We all laughed at our answers. Riku then stepped out of the booth and joined us. Before we could ask him what the fortune teller told him, he jumped on the gun and said, "I will suffer a loss in the path of life, but I will out of it a better person. Where my life goes after that is up to me and is not pre-determined."
"Wow," Sora muttered. "This just got real. I really want to try this now!" Then, before any of us could stop him, the spikey brown headed boy also entered the moonlight booth shrouded in purple velvet.
Tidus, Riku, and myself all look at each other and waited for someone to speak and predict Sora's outcome. Since no one was speaking, I said, "Sora is going to see something like 'The grass is greener on the other unattainable side'. It sounds deep enough."
"True," Riku laughed. "But I think Sora's will be 'Beautiful women will flock to your shadow'. It sounds like something that fortune teller would say."
"Meaning?" I asked concerning the prediction.
"He'll never see them because shadows are usually on the ground or behind someone," Riku winked. "Basically out of sight and reach."
"That's a good one!" Tidus exclaimed. "Maybe his will be something like 'First comes knowledge. The rest will come easy.'"
"LAME!" Riku and I shouted as Sora came out of the tent to rejoin us.
"Well, I'm not a fortune teller!" Tidus said in defense. "So," Tidus turned to the newly rejoined Sora. "What did she say?"
"'I will experience a great love," Sora looked completely perplexed. "But I will suffer great pains along with it'."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Sora asked.
"Hopefully not what I think it means," Sora's face went pale. "That fortune teller is really good."
"And creepily accurate," Tidus added.
The three boys then turned to me with 'what-are-you-waiting-for?' looks planted on their faces. They now wanted me to go to the purple velvet wonderland and have my future told by a complete stranger. "Fine," I laughed, heading towards the booth like abyss of the unknown. "I'll go too."
"Go Kairi!" Sora yelled as I shut the curtain behind me.
I looked around the booth. Candles were lit in all corners of the tiny space. They almost seemed to be floating. An Indian styled rug acted as a path to a satin red covered table with a glowing crystal ball on top. Behind the all knowing orb was a cloaked figure. The only clue to it's gender was it's feminine hands that popped out of the sleeves of it's over sized cloak. Her face was covered with a hood too, leaving the dimly light candles of the booth as my only source of pre-known comfort.
"Welcome, young lady," the figure spoke.
'Not again,' I groaned. If one more person mistakes my fake gender today I swear I will-
"And no," she spoke once more. "I don't know that because you look like a girl. You are concealing your gender. Your friends out there think you are male, but you are secretly hiding your true gender from them."
"...Continue," I said down in the chair opposite from her.
"Looks like I convinced you," the figure chuckled. "Now, look into the crystal ball with me. With it's aid, I will peer into your soul and at the very strong of fate that sits with in you."
I looked into the glowing blue orb. The girl waved her hand around. The glowing orb became cloudy. Then it started storming, just as if it was the weather station of souls. Then, the figurine waved her warm and the storm ceased. The crystal had returned to its previous self.
"Oh my," the girl chuckled softly. "You have a very complex life."
Tell me about it.
"I see my statement amuses you," she stated.
...Can she read minds?
"And no," she said. "I don't read minds."
Then what-
"I can read auras," the figure told me. "It's very similar. It's like reading a summary or a synopsis of your thoughts."
Ohh.
"Now them," the girl cleared her throat. "Like I said, your life is difficult and the future will not be so kind to you. It's been awhile since I've seen a future like yours."
"A future like mine?" I asked in confusion.
"How do I state this bluntly," she asked herself. For the first time since I had entered the booth, she sounded as if she didn't know what to do or what to make of the situation in front of her.
"State what?" I practically yelled. I had never been so hungry for a piece of information before in my entire life.
The girl leaned forward and her eyes became visible from the crystal's light. They were exotic and piercing. She had to be Spanish or Indian.
"Kairi," the woman told me, even though I never uttered my name to her. "If you keep pursing the man you long for, your life will be in great danger."
End of Chapter 14
Authors Note: Okay you artist out there!!! It's time to let your talents shine. I'm going to hold a contest. Pick a scene from any of the chapters that you wish to draw. Then, post them (photobucket, deviantart, etc.) and send the URL to me. The best one out there will be featured in the story in whatever way they want, as long as it doesn't interfer with the preset story (Do you want to be Axel's girlfriend? Roxas' childhood friend? That perverted kid in Kairi's math class? It's all up to you!). All other entries will also be featured but I will pick their fate :D. You have until chapter twenty to turn in your entries but I'm giving you a notice ahead of time. Oh yes, make sure to leave a review! I love reading what you all have to say.
PS: Forgive me for any mistakes you see in this chapter. I was very eager and did not want to wait for my editer to read over this.