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On with the show!
Chapter XXV: Dangerous Games
Kairi
I stare at Sora; his mouth is compressed in a hard line—which is understandable, considering everything he's been through.
I lean forward to hug him, so he knows that he doesn't have to bear this alone, that I am here for him, that I will support him no matter what.
Sora returns the embrace for a moment, and then pulls away. "Thanks...I...I needed that." he says, and it sounds like he's ashamed of the fact.
"It's okay," I tell him, adressing his words as well as his tone. "Everyone needs help sometimes."
Sora nods and gives me a small smile. "Right," he leans in to give me a gentle kiss on the lips.
He pulls away, but I refuse to let him, pressing him back down onto the couch and kissing him harder.
It's nice to do this—we haven't had some alone-time for a while—at least not where we were on good enough terms to kiss each other.
The kiss starts out reserved, but it quickly become explorative in more ways than one; I feel Sora's hand brush over my backside, and even through part of me is completely mortified by his actions, I can't deny the fact that it feels good.
I'm operating more on instinct now than anything, and when his grip tightens, my immediate response is to press my hips into his, fingers tangling in his hair as he deepens the kiss.
When Sora slips his hand under my shirt and starts tracing patterns on my skin, I realize that we're crossing over into dangerous territorry, but I can't bring myself to stop.
His teeth graze my bottom lip, all heat and lust, and I press closer to him in response.
And then, he pulls away, gasping.
"We should...we should stop." Sora says, pausing to catch his breath.
I press closer and capture his lips again, harsh and fervent and hot. "I don't wanna," I complain in between kisses.
Sora, however, can always be counted upon to be the voice of reason, and he pushes me away gently, but firmly. "Kairi," he says, his tone hard and stern.
"Fine," I huff, pulling back to pout at him.
Sora clenches his jaw. "Don't look at me like that,"
"Why not?"
"Because, you're making it very difficuly to avoid kissing you senseless. You're pretty fucking sexy without the pouting." Sora seems to catch himself, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly when he realizes what he's said.
I nod, blushing at the compliment, as Sora's hands shift to hold me by the hips as he sits up. He squeezes gently and I suck in a breath, biting my lip to keep from moaning.
"So...about that party," Sora begins with a grin.
I smile back. "I'll go get the guest list."
***DMS***
Even though no one is here yet, I can tell that we have an epic party in the making. I wonder briefly if Sora's influence is corrupting me; six months ago, I never would've dreamed of going to a party where there might've been booze, and now I'm hosting one.
I think about that for a moment, and then I decide that I'm okay with it.
I give the kitchen one last once-over: Soft drinks, chips and dip, along with various other snack foods are laid out on the counters in a massive spread. There's more food in the fridge, just in case, along with the keg of beer that I hadn't noticed until now—apparently Sora keeps one on hand for occasions like this.
I take a deep breath, glad to be done with the set-up.
Sora saunters into the room behind me and rests his chin on the top of my head. "Looks great, Kai. You did a really nice job with all this."
"Thanks. I can't wait for everyone to get here." I tell him honestly.
"Riku, Yuffie, Roxas, and Naminé are on their way now, and everyone else from the Senior class said that they'll be underway within the next half-hour or so." Sora explains, hugging me around the middle.
No sooner has he finished saying this, than Riku and Roxas barge in the front door, toting a case alcoholic beverages in one hand, and a case of Red Bull in the other.
This can't possibly end well...
I put on a brave face despite my misgivings, and wave to them as haul the goods into the kitchen.
"Uh, are we interrupting?" Riku asks, raising a suggestive eyebrow.
It takes me a second to catch his meaning, and then I realize that Sora's arms are still wrapped around my midsection.
I pull away from him quickly, embarrassed. "No, not at all." I say, and although my voice is completely nonchalant, the burn ravaging my face gives me away as I blush scarlet.
"Whassup, guys?" Sora wonders, bumping elbows instead of fists with Riku and Roxas, on account of their full hands.
"Not much, where do you want this shit?" Roxas asks, returning the gesture.
"Just stick it in the garage for now," Sora instructs.
The two of them have obiously been here before, because they don't waste any time heading for what I assume must be the garage, leaving the room in the same instant that Naminé and Yuffie enter.
Yuffie, apparently, is used to the party life, because she's hauling in a case of vodka; she offers Sora a nod before following after the boys.
There's a thud from the garage, and Sora glances at me with an apologetic smile. "Be right back," he says, and I can swear I hear him mutter the word douchebags under his breath.
Naminé spears me with an antagonistic glare, and for a minute, I'm lost, wondering what I could have possibly done to earn her ire, and then it dawns on me that I've pretty much dropped off the face of the earth as far as she's concerned...with everything that's been going on, I haven't really had the time to fill her in on what's been happening, and that knowledge spawns a guilty pit in my stomach.
"Hey, Nami. How's it going?"
Naminé's stare hardens. "Fine."
"I'm really sorry," I offer lamely.
Naminé folds her arms and leans against the counter. "It would have been nice if you could have called or something. The last time I saw you, you were hooked up to a ton of hospital machinery and could barely keep your eyes open...You could've at least called." she quips.
Another pang of guilt stabs me. "I know. I've just been a little...occupied. Things've been happening so fast, and I guess I just got sidetracked. It won't happen again, I promise. Do you think you can forgive me?" My teeth sink into my lower lip as I wait for her response.
Naminé continues to stare at me silently for another moment, and then she folds, her face breaking into a smile. "Aww, Kairi, I can't stay mad at you." she pulls me into a hug. "Just keep in touch from now on, okay? I really missed you..."
I hug her back. "I will."
Naminé pulls back, and grins at me mischeviouly. "So...You and Sora seem to be doing better." she drawls.
I blush, and nod. "Yeah. I think he's finally starting to get it...I was getting so irritated with him, and I almost gave up, but I'm glad I didn't." I confess.
"Me too. You seem much happier now." Naminé agrees.
Sora, Riku, Yuffie, and Roxas head back into the kitchen, and then the doorbell rings.
"Let's get this party started!" Yuffie howls.
***DMS***
The party is in full swing, and pretty amazing, if I do say so myself.
Sora's living room is packed with people, most of whom are gathered around the TV watching football.
"What the hell? A turnover? Seriously? Are you blind?" One of the boys—Tidus, I think is his name—shouts at the TV. "That was clearly a first down!"
"Aw, shut up Tidus," Wakka interjects. "Worthless-berger can't throw for shit, the ref's right."
"Both of you, stop it." Selphie groans, shifting closer to Tidus on the couch.
I smile to myself, remembering the days past where my friends and I argued about the same things.
A few people are dancing to the music in the background, but no one is drunk enough for it to be entertaining—not yet at least.
The kitchen is also full of people, though they're just shooting the breeze and lamenting the fact that there's still six months of school left.
And then, Vanitas shows up.
It's like a scene out of a overrated teen movie—every girl in the room, with the exception of Naminé and Yuffie turns to look at him.
And Vanitas only smirks. He saunters up to Sora and taps him on the shoulder. "Sick party bro,"
Sora freezes, and the drink he's pouring overflows onto the counter, then starts dripping onto the floor.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" he snarls.
"I saw the lights from the road; thought I'd stop in for a visit." Vanitas' voice is level and calm.
I can cut the tension in the air with a knife.
Sora's hand strays toward the block of knives next to the stove, but Vanitas doesn't even bat an eye.
Instead, he helps himself to a can of beer and takes a long swig. "You're in no shape to fight, Sora. And I doubt you want to be responsible for the injuries to innocent people a battle in here would cause. Besides, you've got a pretty sweet crib here...It'd be a shame to wreck it. So, why don't we settle this a different way?"
"What do you have in mind?" Sora grits out, his eyes burning murder.
"Just a little drinking game." Vanitas smirks again. "Last man standing wins."
Sora nods. "Fine. I win, you leave."
Vanitas dips his head in acceptance. "And if I win?"
Sora snorts derisively. "Not going to happen."
"All the same. If I win, I'm staying." Vanitas responds levelly.
A few moments later, we're all seated at the dining room table, surrounded by practically everyone at the party.
Seven against one...that hardly seems fair, I think to myself, but Vanitas doesn't look the slightest bit worried.
Vanitas draws numbers on the red plastic cups; one through six, and starts explaining the rules.
"Okay, here's the deal. One of you is going to have to opt out."
Naminé raises her hand. "I'm designated driver...and I despise the taste of liquor. I'll sit this one out." She kisses Roxas' cheek and moves to stand behind his chair.
Vanitas hands out the cups. "I have cup number one." he says.
"Two." Sora's voice is almost a snarl.
"Three," I answer after inspecting mine.
"Four," Riku's voice is considerably calmer than Sora's but there's still an edge to it.
"Five," Yuffie is completely nonchalant, ready for a challenge.
"Six," Roxas almost sounds bored, but his eye's are wild with aniticipation.
"This game is fairly simple. Everyone takes turns rolling the dice. When it stops rolling, everyone except the person whose cup number matches the dice has to drink their entire cup. Vomiting, passing out, or failing to finish your beer is an immediate disqualification. Last man standing wins."
A wastebucket is placed by each of our chairs as he says this, and I cringe at the very real possibility that I might end up actually using the thing.
Vanitas grins savagely and tosses Sora the die. "You're up first, hero."
Sora tosses the dice at the table and it lands with the six facing up.
Everyone except Roxas downs their cup, and Naminé refills them for us.
I very nearly gag at the taste, wondering why on Earth anyone would willingly drink this stuff. I hold back the bile and grit my teeth.
I inwardly cheer when Riku's roll spares me from having to take another drink.
Over the course of the next few turns, however, I'm not so luck, having to take a drink for each of Roxas, Yuffie, and Vanitas' turns.
I feel a slight buzzing at the base of my skull, and my brain becomes slightly fuzzy, like the synapses aren't quite firing right.
As the game wears on, it becomes increasingly difficult to focus, and by my fourth turn, I actually have to concentrate to pick up the die.
I roll the die and it lands with the three facing up. Saved.
"Shit," Roxas mutters, his forhead slamming into the table as he lets his head drop.
Naminé rubs his back like the tender soul that she is. "You okay, babe?"
Roxas groans, downs his beer, and then vomits in spectacular fashion into the plastic wastebucket by his chair. "Dammit." he mutters, and then pukes again.
Gross.
Thankfully, the crowd of people has vanished now, most of them had the good sense not to get completely wasted, and the rest, I assume were just tired.
"One down." Vanitas smirks as Sora rolls the dice.
Three turns later, and Yuffie is passed out cold on the table.
I'm drunk enough now that I know I'm wasted, though I can't decide if that's a good thing or not.
Riku's eyes are glassed over, and he sighs heavily as Naminé tops off his cup.
Sora's eyes blaze, intesified by the alcohol in his blood.
Three more rolls of the dice and Riku sets his half-empty beer on the table, with an apologetic glance in Sora's direction.
Sora only nods and smacks his cup down on the table.
I down my glass and clench my teeth against the bile creeping up the back of my throat.
Vanitas twirls the die on his fingertip, seemingly unaffected by the alcohol, before letting it bounce onto the table.
Sora finishes his beer heroically—I've lost count of how many we've consumed, and is promptly sick in the wastecan.
I stare Vanitas down, and match him, drink for drink as the game wears on.
Finally, I can't drink another sip and my cup tumbles out of my suddenly limp hand.
Vanitas smirks at Sora triumphantly over the table. "I win," he jeers.
In a blindingly fast motion, Sora leaps across the table, slamming into Vanitas hard enough to knock both of them to the floor.
Sora unleashes the full force of his fury on Vanitas, swinging for the fences as he clobbers the other young man with his fists—even drunk, he's pretty accurate.
And then I realize, even though I'm tanked, that Vanitas isn't fighting back, he's just shielding himself from the worst of the blows. Sora topples off of him spent, and Vanitas hobbles to his feet.
"I'll see myself out." He heads for the door. "Thanks for the game."
And, just before he slips out the door, he winks at me.
I'm not sure what to make of that.
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Look Sharp,
~Script