Chapter 28
That night at dinner, Kairi sat in silence and just picked at her food. Yuffie had tried to make conversation, but every attempt, well, failed.
"Kairi, how do you like the food?"
"It's how my mother used to cook it." She referred back to her adoptive mother, shooting a glare at Leon, who in return glared back.
Yuffie sat back. She tried again. "What do you want to do after dinner?"
Kairi shrugged.
And Yuffie tried yet again. "What did you do before?"
Kairi looked at Leon. "I would curl up in front of the fire on cold days with my mother and father, read a good book…drink hot tea. Something I'm sure you never do."
Leon shuddered. Every word she said to him was a bite in his heart and closer to his anger.
Through out dinner, they looked at no one but each other. She felt like she detested him, but in reality was confused.
Towards the end of dinner, and after many futile attempts to strike up conversation, Yuffie tried once more.
"So, how is Sora. Kairi?"
"He's doing fine. Oh! Maybe he's finding long lost relatives too! That'd be amazing! Then we could have one big happy reunion!" she applied a big fake smile with this, her eyes hating Leon more and more with every word.
Leon though, had enough.
"Damnit Kairi!" His hand slapped the table so hard that Kairi's hate couldn't even hide her sudden fear. "Stop being an immature bitch to me! Why can't you believe me!? Fine! You know what? I'll prove it to you! Come with me; we'll go back to our parent's homes and find out the truth! Please Kairi, say yes!" Anger soon turned to desperation which turned to pleading. "Please Kairi…give me a chance. If not for a brother, then for a lover...Please?"
Kairi's fear dissipated quickly, but as replaced by jaded anger. She glared at Leon. "I told you not to talk to me." And just as cruelly as she said that, she stood up and turned her back on him.
Leon's face turned into a glare for a minute second. Then, with determination on his face, he stood up rapidly, placing one hand on the table in front of him, and he leaped over it. Yuffie let out an exclamation of surprise and Kairi turned. Leon stood just behind her and she jumped in surprise. Her surprise though, soon turned to anger.
"What?!" she protested rudely.
"Let me please prove it to you!"
She breathed deeply, as if trying to catch her breath. "Look. I'm confused. I don't know what to do, what to say, how to react. I deal with things with anger."
"We both do," he just nodded but thought "It'll be hard, but since I'm the same way, I can accept it easier."
Silence reigned over the pair, and Yuffie looked on fearful and curious. Kairi breathed in and out slowly. Leon just watched, waiting for an answer.
" I …maybe, …" she stopped, trying to think, but her mind was empty. "Fine." she said abruptly. "I'll go to that place." her eyes had been darting back and forth quickly, After her curt statement she shot her eyes back to Leon's face, which was relieved that she was done being angry and had accepted his proposal, she shot him the most intense glare. She shoved away from him and slammed her bedroom door shut.
Starring at her door and exit, he muttered, "that stupid bipolar little..." he hissed out the rest of his air and sat down heavily in his chair. His eyebrows knitted together tightly in a frown as he slumped greatly, legs sticking out, as his fork just stabbed the wooden table over and over again.
xxxx
Days went by and the plans for the next trip to their destination was booked. Kairi and Leon alone were going, because they didn't have money for three people, but also because Yuffie didn't want to go.
They bought only one room that had two beds and a small bathroom. It was small and cramped, but enough room to live sufficiently.
The ship was actually not meant for transportation, and meant for importing and exporting but it had a few rooms. The rooms were just smaller than average.
Leon walked ahead of Kairi. He carried her bag, which was a bit of Yuffie's things and some of Leon's.
He walked up, a little unsurely, and looked around for the captain. He saw the first mate and went up to him.
"Excuse me sir, I need to find the boarding rooms."
"Down the companionway by the bow and then the first three lefts and you're in the right hall." The mate turned back to his previous conversation.
Leon went down the companionway with Kairi tagging along. He felt stuffed inside the small airless passages. He struggled through the halls with the two bags, looking for door 3A. Eventually, with a few wrong turns and a few asked directions, they found their room.
"Here we are." Leon said as he placed the bags down. He opened the door and stepped inside. It was very small, and very cramped. The entire room was about six feet by ten feet. There was one small closet two hammocks, hung by one hook opposite each other. Once they were laid out completely, they would be opposite catty-corner, one on top of another, with the door across from them.
"Well. It's not much, but it's the only home we've got for the next while."
Kairi hadn't said a word. She was looking around bemused. Life would be interesting for the next little bit.
Leon unpacked their items and said he would take the top bunk. Kairi just stood in the corner watching him. Once he was done, he stood up and a knock came at the opened door. A friendly face poked through of a young man.
"Hello. I just saw you were here. I'm next door, in 2A."
Leon, being the typical 'Leon' he was, didn't trust nor like him.
"So?" the boy's eyes frowned as he could see he wasn't welcomed.
Kairi spoke for the first time sonce coming aboard.
"Oh, don't mind my brother." She said, sneering the word brother. "He's always moody. I'm Kairi."
"Kairi! Don't give stuff like that away! You don't know who this is!" Leon groaned and sort of snapped.
" I don't give a damn how much on defense you had to live your life. I'm not going to live mine on defense because I won't meet interesting people. Go away." She turned back to the boy.
"And your name is?"
"I'm Phreterik. Pleased to meet you." He stuck out a hand to shake, and Kairi took it.
"Same."
Kairi turned around having just ' a feeling' someone was there. Leon was standing just behind her, with the nastiest look on his face.
She sighed, annoyed. "What is your problem Leon? Grow up and don't so protective of me."
Phreterik could easily see what was happening. It was just typical brotherly thing.
"Um, I could come back another time." He whispered.
"No, don't bother. How long have you been on board?" Kairi asked her new friend.
"All day."
"Good. Then you can show me around the boat. I have no idea of the lay out, and I could use a guide." Kairi said.
Phreterik smiled. "I'd be happy too." He smiled a bit nervously, and offered his arm. Kairi smiled and stepped out of the room. Leon was just about to follow the door slammed shut in his face. He bellowed quietly and threw the door opened.
"Don't you dare go with him!" he yelled at her.
She whirled around and barked. "You tell me what to do again and I will get off the boat. I don't have to go back with you. I can go join Sora."
Leon ground his teeth, knowing she was well right. "I'm coming then,"
"I'd rather you not."
"I'm coming and that's final."
"Says who?" The whole time, Kairi was almost also showing off to Phreterik. But now, she wasn't. she dropped her voice. "I don't want you to come because you always ruin stuff for me. Ever since…that night…you've been up my ass. Can I please have time alone?"
This was the first time Kairi ever said anything heartfelt to him so he decided to let it go.
"Fine. Whatever. Go."
"Bye!" Kairi stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek, the first time she'd done that to him since she found out about her true origin.
She skipped off with Pheterik to go see the ship. The ship of the future…Adventurus Futuras.
A/N:: Another chapie...nothing new, but Happy New Years!!!!! any way does someone want to review????
