Mr Destiny Islands

Chapter four: The P. Campaign

Authors note: Let me first apologise to all readers for the little slips in grammar and spelling from the previous chapters. I will strive to rework them when I have the time. For now, I will be concentrating on continuing the fic. And please carry on making more assumptions with me. Answers to some of the questions reviewers brought up:

No, Riku has not spoken yet. I honestly don't know when he will be bothered to be vocal; The winner of the MDI contest has already been announced on another KH fic I wrote before launching this fic. (So read it if you want to know who won, if not, don't as it is a pretty big spoiler.)   

Disclaimer: I don't own them! I really don't have the rights to KH characters!

After sending Selphie to fetch the boys, Kairi proceed to pin up the Mr Destiny Island (teen category) poster next to her 'M.D.I BATTLE PLAN'. With the cave all to herself, Kairi started speaking her thoughts out loud.

Since young, Kairi had been afraid of being left alone. Silence usually accompanied this empty feeling of loneliness. The silence was deafening and often overwhelmed the little reassurance that her thoughts provided. Thus, to overcome this phobia, Kairi needed to break the silence. Kairi found solace in voicing her thoughts, what she feels, as the spoken words have the power to banish the darkness silence had imposed onto her life.

Now, after coming to Destiny Islands, making friends with Sora, Selphie and many more, Kairi did not have to bear the familiar fear of loneliness anymore. But old habits are the hardest to break. During the rare moments she is left alone, Kairi would indulge in this old tendency, no longer a measure taken to keep the silence away, but rather out of habit. Sometimes, when Sora and Selphie have petty arguments, and they sounds like New Year's fire crackers, Wakka stops them with a  "Give me some silence will ya?" Kairi would smile, a bitter sweet smile, and she would wish deep in her heart that he would not get 'silence', because she knew no one deserves such a cruel gift.

Kairi's finger traced the letters on the glossy poster.

"Finally, I have a chance to do something for the boys."

Since she came to the island, she had been on the receiving end. Receiving Sora's unconditional friendship, Selphie's sweet smiles and lovable antics and even the occasional bland look of acknowledgement from Riku. They opened new doors for Kairi, introduced her into their lives. Now, Kairi had become one of them. But coming with nothing, Kairi did not have anything to reciprocate their kindness. With this competition, she felt that she could do something in return for the boys.

She would make them win.

As expected, Selphie had forgotten about her task of fetching the boys and was eating flavoured ice as she sat on the side benches watching the boys play blitz ball when Kairi came along to get the boys herself.

Kairi took a seat next to Selphie and smiled at her friend, who was greatly enjoying the strawberry flavoured ice as well as the exciting game of blitz ball that was happening before her big bambi eyes. "Who's winning?"

"O… I think Sora and Riku are winning, but I am not sure… they have the ball but all the action just happens too fast! I can't tell Tidus and Sora apart… they are wearing the same shirt again. And their hair spikes look the same. But Riku has been so cool! He made such a cool save just now. He like dove and bend and caught and ….Kairi?" Selphie finally tore her eyes from the game and turned to stare at the girl she was suppose to carry out an errand for.

"I forgot." Cried Selphie pitifully as she honestly confessed to Kairi, who just shook her head in exasperation.

"I know, don't worry, I came myself so don't get too upset. Now eat that ice before it turns your jumper orange." Kairi comforted the other girl, who looks as if she was going to melt into tears together with her pink ice.

Kairi then tried to concentrate on the game. She figured it would be impossible to drag both Sora and Riku out of the game before it ended so Kairi decided to play spectator in the meantime. But irritation clouded in her pretty blue eyes when the sighing and cooing from the large group of female spectators did not stop but increased further with each passing ball throw. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration hit Kairi like a blitz ball.

"Take off your shirt! Sora! Take your top off!" shouted Kairi from the top of her voice.

"Eh?" Sora looked around in puzzlement, and saw Kairi waving frantically at him. He gave her a strange look before peering down to his drenched shirt top. It did feel uncomfortable wearing it. So Sora took it off.

A smile of satisfaction was crept onto Kairi's face as she watched the fangirls' jaws drop and eyes glaze over. Eye-candy overdose. Kairi's smile grew wider as she watched Sora urge Riku to do the same. When the latter did not respond, the former decided to give him a hand. Now there were two bare torsos running about. Kairi said a silent 'thank you' the bright sun that shone above.

*

Just as the game ended, Kairi instructed Selphie to use her great projection to inform the leaving spectators to vote for Riku and Sora in the up coming Mr Destiny Island (Teen category) competition.  

Kairi handed out two dry towels to the two sweaty boys as they approached their bench.

"I recall not telling you to play ball but rather go promote yourselves for the competition. Do you ever listen?" Kairi shook her head in feign disappointment.

Sora buried his head in the towel, a pathetic attempt at hiding his guilt, and muffled from the soft fabric, "Sorrie Kairi!"

Riku just sat down onto the bench, on where Selphie sat during the game, and proceed to dry his silver hair. And ignored Kairi.

"I guess I have to give you guys some credit for doing some campaigning unwittingly."

"Huh?"

"Remember why your shirt is off?"

"Oh, was that a publicity stunt?"

"Smart boy, I think both of you have bagged the votes of the 'pretty ladies' that were cheering your names during the game." Explained Kairi, before she left Sora to digest the tactic she had employed and walked towards Selphie to stop her from overdoing the shouting.

*

"Great game ya? Slippery monkeys them other team ya? " commented Wakka as strolled over, with Tidus in tow, after exchanging some pleasantries with the team they had just defeated.

"Heard from little jumper there that you two have been included into the Mr Destiny Islands thing. True?" Asked Tidus as he pointed towards Selphie who was bouncing in the not-so-far distance.

"Yup, she nominated Riku and I."

Wakka raised a brow and strung an arm around Tidus in a sign of brotherly affection as he said, "This one got in too. Ya?" 

"Really?!"

"He got himself in, ya, to win those fancy food tickets. Got a girl he wants to impress ya. Ouch!" continued Wakka before Tidus gave him an elbow.

The blond boy turned a shade of red as he denied what the older boy had just spouted.

Sora's face brightened for a moment before darkening. First, he was happy that Tidus also got in, but later, he realised that its means that now they are both competitors.

An awkward silence descended upon the four boys.

"Sorry, Sora. But I want to win too."

"I know, Tidus. Don't worry. The best will win!" said Sora as he pat his best friend's bare back to declare his confidence in Riku's chances are winning the competition.

Wakka looked at his team worriedly, with brotherly concern.

"This competition will not hurt us ya? We still play blitz ball ya?"

Both Sora and Tidus look up at Wakka's concerned face and both released trademark smiles.

"Team mates regardless who wins?"

"Team mates."

No beauty competition would get between these close-knitted team mates.

*

Riku felt a slight migraine coming on as he anticipated more trouble brewing ahead because of this competition. He started contemplated leaving the island for a few days, maybe until the competition is over.