Mr Destiny Islands

Chapter five: Running Away

Author's note: Dcal (Female) seeks forgiveness for injecting fan girl overtones into this seemingly innocent KH ficcy. For the story to work, please make the following assumptions: Everyone is four years older than original KH (That means they are not as adorable as they are in KH, everyone is a bit more geeky and lanky… for Tidus and Wakka's case, they are more beefy but not yet what you see in FFX…) And the fic requires very active imagination… Sorry for procrastinating and not working on the fic, but I return with an extended chapter, twice the length of my previous chapters. Plus, I have included an extra chapter (6) called "Another side, another story." about Tidus and Wakka as a thank-you gift to those who have been patiently awaiting my fanfic.       

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

A gentle breeze rolled over the calm seawaters onto the sandy white beach that rimming the island. A single figure stood waist deep in water, pausing momentarily as he let the passing sea breeze cool the sweat off his forehead. Pushing a mini sailboat single-handedly was not easy, even when the sea was as placid and clear as this evening. Riku made sure he had one hand holding firm to the side of his wooden craft, before releasing the other hand to push back the silver strands of hair that had escaped the black ribbon he had used to tie up his shoulder length locks into a pony tail. He then continued to push his craft further out into the glassy waters that had taken on the russet orange of the setting sun. When the water was as high as his upper torso, Riku leaped into his boat, creating a golden spray of water after him.

Finally on his way to freedom, Riku leaned back against the single sail post and released a soft sigh of relief. Unable to resist, Riku turned his head to bid his home island farewell. His gaze fell upon a tiny figure running along the golden shore towards him. His whole body tensed up as he recognised the spike-crowned boy running in his direction, upper limbs waving frantically.

The silver haired boy felt his conscience give him a punch at his chest. Eyes filled with guilt were forced to turn away from the animated figure in the distance. Riku decided not to answer his conscience, which was questioning its existence. 

Just as Riku resolved to ignore Sora, a faint cry in the distance immediately dissolved the former's resolution.

Sora stopped at the edge of the waters and let out another breathless cry, "Riku! You're not running away are you?!"

Riku's head fell in defeat. He face darkened as he leaped out of the boat and into the cold, cold seawater. Pulling the wooden boat behind him, Riku headed back to shore.

Looks like he was stuck with wearing that stupid dress tomorrow.

*

*Flash back :The day before*

It was around noon, and the quartet was sitting in their favourite hangout hiding from the blazing afternoon sun.

"Kairi! I'm starving! Can we have the sandwiches now?" begged Sora as he clutched his waist in an attempt to emphasize his point.

Kairi put down the pieces of lilac coloured cloth she was fiddling with, and looked towards Selphie who was trying to straighten the white cloth she had in front of her. It had been a tiring morning. The girls had taken down the boys' measurements and put them to work sorting out the tangled up lace and thread as they cut out the different pieces of cloth for the boys' outfits.

It was three days before the second round of judging for the Mr Destiny Islands (Teen Category) competition. The popularity voting had been done the day before. Kairi managed to convince Sora that playing blitz ball without his shirt would be more effective as his movements would not be hindered in the water by his wet top. (What she wanted was more 'exposure' to attract more voters for Sora and Riku. Selphie managed to get Riku to take his top off by stealing it when he was sleeping.) Kairi was pretty certain that the boys' did well in that part of the competition, but one can never be too confident. (The whole blitz ball team decided that the shirtless idea was good, even the girls took to wearing their swimming costumes and shorts.) 

The girls had stayed up over the past few days to complete the designs for the costumes to be worn for the fashion parade to be held at the island square during the second round of the competition. Based on the theme that all nominees have to work on, Kairi and Selphie had both come up with outfit designs for the two individuals, to enhance their performance and make them stand out from the other contestants. But they refused to show their hard work to the boys before the outfits had been pieced together.

"Okay, I guess we can afford to have a little break now. Selphie, go take the food out from that basket. Sora put the lace and thread away. Riku, can you pop over to the seaside shack to buy us some cold drinks?" Kairi belted out orders for everyone before hiding the outfit designs under a stack of cushions and cleared a spot for them to have lunch on.

Just as they settled onto the rug Kairi had laid out onto the floor, Riku returned from the seaside shack with a bag of bottled beverages. Sora picked out an egg mayo sandwich and passed it to Riku who in turn handed him a bottle of ice-cream soda. Kairi took the ham sandwich for herself and offered the cheese sandwich to Selphie who passed it on to Sora. Selphie then opened a bag of chips for everyone to share while Riku handed out the remaining bottles of lemonade to Kairi to share with Selphie, keeping the last bottle of cold juice for himself.

All ate and drank in silence, except for the occasional gulp of soda or crunch of a mouthful of chips. After the last crumb was polished off and last drop of juice swallowed, everyone started to loaf around, lounging on available cushions scattered around the cool cave. Selphie was nodding off to an afternoon nap when Kairi suddenly stood up.

"Urgh, we cannot lazy around now, back to work everyone! We have to finish this by tomorrow! Up, up!" reminded Kairi as she shook the sleep from her.

Selphie muttered something but did as Kairi said because she knew the importance of completing the outfits.

"Kairi? Do I have to stay? I mean, I have sorted out the lace and thread, and you have already taken my measurements." Asked Sora.

Kairi's brows furrowed before she replied, "Hm… there is nothing you boys can do now, I guess. Just go get a lot of rest and come to the cave tomorrow morning to try on your outfits."

Sora smiled a smile of relief and said a brief farewell to the girls before he dragged Riku off with him to play blitz ball with their other team mates.

Selphie watched the two teenage boys trot off from the entrance of the cave. As the two figures started the blur because of the distance, Selphie turned round and bounded towards Kairi, all the sleep gone from her little body.

"They're gone! Whew, I thought I would not be able to keep myself from giggling the whole morning. Sora even asked me if I would okay because I kept choking back my laughter. Kairi! Do you think that Sora and Riku will dare to wear the outfits? I mean it's not our fault as we are only sticking to the theme. But still…" questioned Selphie speaking at a rapid pace.

"Nah, they will wear the outfits if they really want to win. Let's just make the outfits as best as we can and leave the boys to make the decision whether a not they want to let us down." Explained Kairi.

A crafty grin developed on her heart shaped face as Kairi started to formulate a plan to 'coax' Sora and Riku into accepting their 'fate'. Lost in her musings, Kairi did not notice Selphie bending down to retrieve the hidden outfit designs from under a pile of cushions. The girl then arranged the different designs on the floor, eyes scanning across each illustration.   

"But really, Sora and Riku wearing that?" Selphie asked as she pointed to the sketches lying harmlessly on the floor.

A giggle escaped from Kairi's tight smile as she mentally pictured the outfits on her two male friends. That was all it took to get Selphie cracking up in the laughter that had been bottle up in her for the better half of the day. Soon, female peals of amusement echoed throughout the whole cave. Selphie fell off her cushion and rolled on the floor as the hilarity of the idea tickled her so badly she momentarily lost control of her sanity. Kairi was not in much better shape as she was bent over, laughing so much her waist started to hurt.

In the distance, Sora stopped and turned back to stare at the cave.

"Do you hear something, Riku?"

The silver haired bishounen just shrugged as he continued to walk ahead without Sora.

"Strange." Muttered Sora to himself as he trailed after his indifferent friend.

*

The sky was pretty and the colour of light blue, dotted with white fluffy clouds that puffed up like cotton candy. A scream, distinctively male, ricochets off the walls of the candle lit cave and pierced through the calmness of a beautiful morning.

Selphie stood firm blocking the entrance of the cave with her small-undeveloped frame. Sora had a tortured expression of disbelief on his adorable face as he begged Selphie to step aside and let him run away from the 'hideous' creation behind him. Riku was still stunned, holding the frothy thing in front of his expressionless face, but the glaze over his eyes betrayed the feeling of incredulity he was experiencing.

"Cruel! Cruel people! Who on earth would want to wear that?!" Whined Sora as Kairi sighed in exasperation.

Kairi grabbed Sora's shoulders in a display of surprisingly strong strength.

"Calm down Sora, it's just part of the competition. No one will think badly of you wearing it because it is part of the criteria. And it's not only you who has to abide to the theme; other guys have to wear similar things. So you are going to be a coward and run away just because you're scared?" challenge Kairi.

Upon hearing the question in Kairi's voice, Sora retorted instinctively, "Who's afraid of such a silly thing… I … I … just don't think I will look good in that… … thing…"

Riku, who had finally recovered from being stupefied, would not fall for the verbal trap that Kairi had set and he walked towards the exit. Selphie lifted her head a notch, refusing to let Riku pass. Riku merely shrugged and picked up the 'obstacle', clearing the path out. But Sora repudiated being the only one left. He reached out and stopped Riku by latching himself onto his right arm.

A troubled look fixated itself onto Riku's normally impassive visage. However, the overwhelming urge to flee was more demanding than relenting to his best friend. Sora did not give up. He managed to use his death-grip to hold Riku back and Sora used this opportunity to his advantage. Using his pretty blue eyes, Sora caught Riku's estranged gaze and pleaded, "Riku, you will not leave me will you?"

A wave of flagging determination hit the silver headed boy. He realised that he was unable to resist those pleading baby blues. Riku could not bear leave Sora to face this alone, at least not for now.

As they watched Riku's resolution crumble, Kairi and Selphie exchanged a look of relief and triumph.

*

Riku walked with his head down as his infamously huge shoes sank into the dreaded shore. Relief flooded Sora's endearing face as he threw his arms around his friend. The unexpected impact of Sora's hug caused Riku to stumble back and lose his balance.

Both lean figures fell upon the wet sand.

The knot tying Riku's black ribbon had somehow come undone as Riku knocked down by Sora and the playful sea breeze tangled the silvery locks of hair. Sora looked down sheepishly at Riku as he struggled to get off the latter. Riku did not move as Sora rolled onto the damp sand next to him. Together, both boys lay flat on their backs on the wet shore as the gentle waters lapse at their feet. A comfortable silence surrounded the two as they watched the sky turn from the fire of twilight into the coolness of a newly born night.

"Why didn't you take me with you?"

"You'll not forsake them."

"So will you stay?"

"Maybe."

*

End of Chapter 5

Ending note: Now proceed to Chapter 6 to have a little fun! It's not really part of MDI but just an omake (extra story). ^-^