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Riku and Mai

Fifty one

Mai woke the sun on her face. Mai liked this, no maids. She had things to do now! She could clean, cook or just go shopping for kitchen stuff. With no maids and a bright morning sun shining down on her she was free to do what ever she wanted. Nothing could surprise her!

"Good morning," Riku greeted.

Mai jumped out of her skin this time, she held her heart while she gasped for air on the floor.

"Whoa, didn't mean to scare you," Riku chuckled. He sat up and looked at her, "I had no idea I scared you that much," Riku's chuckle was now a full out laugh. He got out of bed on his side and walked over to her. He held out his hand and waited for her to take it. Mai took it and he pulled her up, then pulled her close and dove back on the bed. He kissed her before she could react. Mai didn't fight him. Mai allowed Riku to kiss her in anyway he wanted. But Mai noticed he did it slowly. Riku's hands moved slowly up and down her back. Then they stopped at her lower back.

He stopped.

"What's wrong?" Mai asked.

Riku sat up and held her still, he sighed then answered, "You don't mind me holding you yet it's hard to think about holding you."

"What?" Mai clearly didn't understand. She waited, sitting on his lap.

"Most women have a hard time with times like this if they were…" he struggled for words.

"What?"

"If they were raped."

"Oh, but if you haven't noticed I'm not like most women," Mai grinned.

"I know, and that's what scares me."

Mai tilted her head to the side. "Of all times to talk about this, our first time would have been more appropriate."

"I know but it had totally skipped my mind until I woke up. But even then… I was glad we…"

Mai waited for him to finish, but he didn't. Mai sighed. "Riku, don't worry about this, I want this, I want it and I don't like the fact that you're keeping me from it."

Riku looked up to her, meeting her red eyes Riku couldn't help but want to laugh a little. Mai was eager today. Maybe his plan was working. Riku kissed her, meeting her lips, he pulled back again.

"What's wrong?"

"I just had this feeling…" Riku looked out the window.

"What?"

"Nothing," he shook his head and looked at her again. "Are you hungry?"

"Yeah, I sorta am, do you want me to cook?"

"No, I'll cook, you take a bath or something you need to, I'll get you something to eat," he grinned. Mai folded her arms. "You have the strangest mood swings," Riku stood.

"What do you mean?" Mai said, "I'm mad that you stopped us."

Riku chuckled, "I'll explain while you eat," Riku walked to the door and was gone. Mai after a moment stood and went to the bathroom. She gathered her clothes and placed them on the sofa that was sitting in the closet side of the bathroom and walk-in/closet and started the bath water.

She waited until it was warm before she got in. Mai got in the shower and got her hair wet. She scrubbed her hair with the shampoo; it was smelling dull to her. After rinsing her hair Mai smoothed her hair back and let the water hit her face. Mai wondered how Riku was willing to take it. Mai then washed herself and turned of the water and grabbed the towel. Wrapping herself she stepped out. She looked to the other side of the room where the closet was, where her clothes were.

"Princess…"

"Doki?" Mai swallowed, she thought he was dead or dying. But there he stood.

"I'm not happy with that little trick you pulled on me!" he yelled.

"Doki…" Mai could only speak his name out of fear.

"You've made me very mad," He stepped toward her.

"Don't come closer!" she yelled.

Doki chuckled and barked.

Mai looked down, Benjie… Mai blinked a couple of times and recollected her senses. She slammed her hand to her forehead and closed her eyes under the confusion. She shook the feeling off in seconds and went to sofa where her clothes waited. Getting dressed she wondered what she saw, was it the future, like when she was in Midgar? It made sense, it could have been the future but since when could she do that? She wished she could see Axel again he might have the answer to that. Mai sighed; she grabbed Benjie and went to the balcony where there was a great unbroken view of the ocean and the beach. There were no wires, no poles, no walls, or buildings to block her few. It was… amazing. Holding Benjie in her arms she looked at the sky and the ocean of clear blue.

Mai blinked and placed Benjie down once he started to move too much. Standing up she leaned on the wall that separated her from a fall to the death (technically it couldn't kill her she could jump from a four story window and still be okay). Mai sighed again, her parents had a beach house like this, only it was a little smaller and didn't' have a whole floor for a dog. She rested the side of her face on her hand and looked out the ocean.

'They would have loved to have come, not that Riku would invite them but if they could have come they'd do everything in their power to spend time with me,' Mai giggled, 'They might even try to make me sleep with them, they're so goofy,' Mai giggled again.

Mai lifted her eyes and thought about their funeral, she didn't go. And she didn't tell Riku about it. Scroll, the man who came to the house after they came back from Midgar handled everything and made up a story for her disappearance. Mai was grateful. She couldn't bear to go, it was too painful, but that shrine wasn't built yet, but she wanted to find the perfect place before she started building. Mai sighed again.

"Mom, Dad… Axel… I wish you were here," Mai sighed, her grin from the giggles earlier was gone. She was now sad even though that song continued to play in her mind from yesterday she still couldn't help but feel a little depressed.

"One part of that wish can be granted," she heard a familiar voice.

"Axel?"

"Hey doll!"

Mai turned to her left and saw him balancing himself on the gate that separated him from a fall. He was wearing jeans and a white T-shirt, he wasn't wearing the organization uniform. Mai stared at him awestruck. She blinked a couple of times then took a step forward.

"Is this real?"

"Yup," Axel jumped off and opened his arms to her.

Mai ran to hug him and squeezed him. Axel was alive! Axel was alive!