Chapter Three: Dramatics (or how Sora went crazy)
A/N: Oops.... I am soo sorry about the delay. It was just finals, then a major writers block... er, that's why I wasn't able to write most of the summer (Plus a trip to St. Kitts and a week to Fencing Camp in Brown University and the sakura caller's CLOVER Project (taping and acting) so, no time. J'ai regret (French: I'm sorry) but here you go!
Within the last two weeks, nothing really happened, much to the surprise of Sora. Then again, he hoped Riku wasn't hurt to badly. The silver-haired man had been polite enough during the last half a month, but it was a forced formality, an icy hello that froze him over or a small smile instead of the devious smirks and pleasurable grins he had been doing previously.
Kairi hadn't noticed much of a change, except now it was Riku pushing Sora away instead of the opposite. She tried not to look when Sora's face fell as Riku walked by or when Riku wouldn't look him in the eye. It was too painful to see her two best friends, one of them her fiance, not even say a simple good morning. Nothing was simple anymore.
Unbeknownst to his roommates, Riku hadn't changed at all. All the while when Riku had been cold and uncaring, he was in actuality, regrouping. After collecting his thoughts and figuring out some things, he managed one final question that wasn't answered.
Was there a chance Sora just didn't understand?
As these thoughts went through the ice eyes of Riku, he began to think about what to do next.
Which brings us to the next most memorable event in this story...
Today...
Kairi sighed, fingers strumming the cords of her song. She frowned, trying to remember the next words to her blossoming song. Ever since the day after Riku came back, she wasn't able to add anything to the lyrics.
"You... you... came to me?" she sang, then shook her head. That didn't seem right. "You smiled at me?"
She thought of how Riku use to smile, a devilish smirk, then she smiled herself. She was beginning to miss the smile that use to bring so much trouble and yet, it brought joy as well.
"and said..." she frowned. "Said what?" she kept strumming, trying to get the words to form in her mind. "I love you?... Don't get me wrong, I love you..."
That worked. "But does that mean..." she tried to think of something else, then remembered Sora's face at the thought of having to say hello to Kairi's father. "I have to meet your father!" she giggled, then kept strumming, going over the part of the song she had so far, keeping her voice low so the boys wouldn't hear her in the living room. God knows what they were doing and though she knew they were sweet, they weren't exactly responsible. Besides, she was the only one in the house that knew that strawberry-banana smoothies did not a dinner make.
A crash was heard in the living room.
"I didn't do it!" Two boys punctuated in unison.
She rolled her eyes and heavy heartedly put away her guitar, mentally kicking herself as she wondered why she was planning on marrying one of them.
She didn't have to go far to survey the damage. She stared at the boys, then switched to the broken vase on the ground that seemed to use to have water in it. On the table was a bouquet of pink carnations.
She raised an eyebrow. "What happened?" she said, every syllable rolling over her tongue like water.
The boys exchanged looks and an "uhhh..." in unison.
Riku pointed at Sora. "Sora, here dropped the vase I was offering him for the lovely flowers he bought you."
"Was there any reason in particular that the vase dropped?" She watched with a silent glee as Riku slowly smirked, the same smile she had been hoping to see over the past few weeks. Sora squirmed uncomfortably.
"N-nothing." Sora mumbled, fidgeting under the gaze of both his fiancee and really, REALLY close friend. he sighed and got the broom to clean everything up. As he worked, Kairi picked up the flowers and kissed his cheek, practically prancing to the kitchen to make dinner.
He said it was nothing.
She was happy she didn't have to play referee for the battle.
It obviously wasn't 'nothing'.
Sora shivered, remembering what had happened. It was innocent enough, and the main part of what Riku said was correct. He just failed to mention everything else, like the sensual smirk and touches.
And the way his voice dropped in a sexual implying way.
The thing was, Sora had been so surprised at Riku's actions, he had dropped the vase out of shock. Perhaps if Riku had been playing the part of the seducer for the past two weeks, he would have been used to it. But it seems, after a short break, Riku's hormones were back in full swing.
Sora shook his head. Whatever he did, he wasn't going to remember Riku's lingering touches as they felt his shoulder or perfectly carved lips. It was for the best, after all.
He sat down in his place at the table. Kairi began placing dishes in front of him as Riku finished setting the table. The other two sat down, smiling. Kairi on one side, Riku of the other.
Kairi nodded. "Let's say grace." The three of them held hands and closed their eyes. Kairi's soft voice began to speak, almost in a lullaby way, about how they were thankful about being together and finding happiness, but Sora's mind wasn't on the prayer. Riku's thumb was massaging the palm of Sora's hand. Sora slightly opened his eyes then widened them as Riku's ice blue eyes pierced through his sky blue ones.
His other fingers caressed his wrist and arm. Sora felt himself tremble under his grasp. Riku smirked, feeling Sora shiver at his light touch.
"Thank you." Kairi said, before opening her eyes. Riku somehow managed to put his hand back in Sora's as Kairi smiled and began placing food on her plate.
"Sora, the flowers are really beautiful." Kairi said, smiling at him. He returned the favor.
"Where did you get them from?" Riku asked, innocently.
"Oh, I saw Aerith today an-" he gave a small squeak and sat up in his chair.
Kairi frowned. "What's wrong?"
Sora sat back, silently glaring at Riku. "Nothing."
Apparently, Riku's hands weren't the only thing that couldn't stay in one place. His foot had slipped out of his shoe and was had traced his ankle.
"What was that?" Riku asked, sweetly, "About the flowers?"
Mind games. Great.
"I got them from Aerith, today." Sora rushed out.
Kairi smiled. "She has the most beautiful little garden in the back of her apartment building. Have you seen it, Riku?"
"No, I unfortunately have not." His foot now treaded around Sora's leg, then began raising his pant leg.
Sora inwardly cursed himself for wearing shorts. He squared his jaw.
"Sora, are you sure you're alright?" Kairi asked. She felt his forehead. "You've barely eaten and you're sweating."
"I'm fine, Kairi." he mumbled.
"I don't think you are. You seem a bit high strung." Riku smiled as nicely as he could without smirking. Sora's face was growing redder by the second.
Riku's leg traveled higher, reaching Sora's inner thigh until...
Sora stood up so fast, his chair fell backwards.
"Vacation!"
Even Riku was puzzled. Kairi blinked. "Vacation?"
"We... vacation..." Sora spat out. "I think we all need to go on a vacation."
Kairi's eyebrow raised again for the second time that evening. "What, now?"
"As soon as possible." Sora almost sat down again, then stood straight back up once he saw Riku's smile. "It... it would make me less high strung." he said, embellishing the last three words.
"Oh, a vacation!" Kairi smiled, then stood up. "We should go to the Destiny Islands again."
"Kairi, there's nothing there." Riku said. "Just, you know, the island."
"And memories." Kairi said, remembering the secret area.
Riku and Sora exchanged glances. Memories, indeed.
"Enough is enough." she said, finally. "We're going to the Destiny Islands."
Three Days later...
Kairi stretched her arms as she walked onto the island. "That ship is cramped."
"Well," Goofy said, with his hand behind his head. "We haven't remodeled it since... well, for a long time."
Donald mumbled something strangely close to 'never'.
Riku got off next, running his hands through his hair. He surveyed the island. Apparently, a hurricane came through. Some things were broken, like the path to the place Tidus use to practice and the roof to the stairway was in pieces, but everything else was just as normal. He turned around to see Sora thanking his friends and watched as they piloted off.
"Well," Kairi asked, coming toward the two boys. "The only question is where are we going to plan camp?"
"We can all sleep in the place where I found the cloth." he said, pointing up to where he was mentioning. "Or the secret area."
Needless to say, Riku wasn't too fond of the secret area.
They spent most of the day working on rebuilding the island. Kairi smiled as she watched how close the two of them were working. At least they were finally communicating. Then again, they weren't exactly talking, really, but they were working together, so all was good and there was much rejoicing.
"Kairi?" Riku called up from the roof of the stairway. "Do you have anything to hold back hair?"
"You mean, like a scrunchie? Why, is that long mane of yours getting in the way?"
"Just a little." he said, throwing his hair off of his shoulders. He looked down at Sora, who was still hammering down on the nail. Smirking, he peeled off his shirt, tossing his head like a lion. He picked up his water bottle and took a gulp, partially closing his eyes. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sora look at him then look back down at his work. At first glance, it would seem as if he had no response to Riku's actions, but after closer inspection (after Riku put the bottle down) his face had turned red, and not because of the heat.
"Here." Kairi threw up a hair holder, which Riku swept his hair up into a low ponytail before continuing his work.
About half an hour more of this, Kairi called a halt to the work and allowed them to break, in which Riku took this opportunity to go back to his part of the island, a miniature island of itself. He smiled fondly at the paopu tree he use to inhibit before swinging himself over the tree trunk.
"You look comfortable," Riku looked down to see Sora staring up at him.
Riku smirked. "You came all the way over here on your break which you could have been spending with your fiancee and away from the notorious flirt to tell me that?"
Sora just looked up at him, not changing his facial expression. "I came here for a reason, you know."
"Really," Riku slid off the tree trunk and faced Sora, still shirtless and ponytailed, until they were barely an inch apart. "Now, I'm curious, why did you come over here?"
The smaller young man felt the need to breath deeper. "I... uh, just came to talk to you... you know, as friends?" the last part quirked up as a question accidently.
Riku made a face. "I don't believe that, Sora. I know you too well. You're lying." an arm snaked around Sora's waist.
"Riku, you can't do this."
"Why not?" the arm's counterpart too, wrapped around Sora's waist and they both pulled him closer to it's master.
"Well, Kairi-"
"-is sleeping. She went to take a nap in the camp area." Riku said softly into Sora's hair. "Now, I'll ask you again," he mumbled, lips caressing Sora's ear, "Why did you come over here?"
Sora moaned in response. He arched up a little as Riku's fingers found their way underneath his shirt.
"You're all sweaty Sora," his mouth began to kiss Sora's neck.
"You don't seem to find it much of a problem." Riku had to laugh at that.
"When it comes to you, Sora, nothing seems too much of a problem." he leaned into Sora's mouth, his lips brushing over them. Then after a moment's hesitation, he asked again. "Sora, what are you doing here?"
"I'm not even sure myself." he whispered. "I just... had to come here."
Riku smirked before closing his eyes and kissing the frail boy in his grasp. Sora's hands, just like before, reached up and wrapped around Riku's neck. He felt Riku part his lips and he willingly agreed to the experience. He felt around Riku's shoulders, searching for the silver hair to tangle through his fingers and came to the ponytail. He felt the scrunchie and his eyes opened to a single word that blasted in his mind.
KAIRI
He broke the kiss and pushed out of Riku's arms, backing away. "Enough, Riku... How... how could you!"
Now Riku was really confused. "How could I what?"
"You... allowed me to kiss you, how could you!" Sora felt disgusted with himself. "You let me kiss you... you... I..."
"You, what?" Riku snapped.
"Riku, I'm getting married, okay, married!" he pointed toward the campsite, "That girl up there is the one I'm suppose to marry."
"Suppose to marry, huh?" Riku looked skeptical.
"Listen, Riku, you can have feelings for me, that's acceptable. You can toy around with me and mess with my mind, fine. But I'm engaged. And-" he backed away from him again as Riku moved foreward.
"And, what?"
"I... dunno, I was doing fine without you messing me up." he reached the boardwalk and looked down. "I can't believe I kissed you."
"What, didn't you enjoy it?"
"Stop, Riku, I'm serious." he muttered to the ground.
"I am, too." he took a few quick steps, then after he realized Sora wasn't moving, he walked to him and lifted his face to meet his sky blue eyes.
He was fighting back tears.
"Riku," he said, softly. "I'm so confused."
He gave him a small smile. "Then you don't yet understand."
With that, he walked away.
Chapter owari
A/N: Wow, that was hard to write. The end was so depressing though... Now, I know what Riku's gonna do and I know what Sora and Kairi are gonna do, now I have to figure out how they are gonna do it. (hmm..., next chapter will have such a big implication, it'll make your head spin. Let me put it this way, if I give a chapter tease, I'll give away too much. one word: blush!
review review review or no more chapters for you!
A/N: Oops.... I am soo sorry about the delay. It was just finals, then a major writers block... er, that's why I wasn't able to write most of the summer (Plus a trip to St. Kitts and a week to Fencing Camp in Brown University and the sakura caller's CLOVER Project (taping and acting) so, no time. J'ai regret (French: I'm sorry) but here you go!
Within the last two weeks, nothing really happened, much to the surprise of Sora. Then again, he hoped Riku wasn't hurt to badly. The silver-haired man had been polite enough during the last half a month, but it was a forced formality, an icy hello that froze him over or a small smile instead of the devious smirks and pleasurable grins he had been doing previously.
Kairi hadn't noticed much of a change, except now it was Riku pushing Sora away instead of the opposite. She tried not to look when Sora's face fell as Riku walked by or when Riku wouldn't look him in the eye. It was too painful to see her two best friends, one of them her fiance, not even say a simple good morning. Nothing was simple anymore.
Unbeknownst to his roommates, Riku hadn't changed at all. All the while when Riku had been cold and uncaring, he was in actuality, regrouping. After collecting his thoughts and figuring out some things, he managed one final question that wasn't answered.
Was there a chance Sora just didn't understand?
As these thoughts went through the ice eyes of Riku, he began to think about what to do next.
Which brings us to the next most memorable event in this story...
Today...
Kairi sighed, fingers strumming the cords of her song. She frowned, trying to remember the next words to her blossoming song. Ever since the day after Riku came back, she wasn't able to add anything to the lyrics.
"You... you... came to me?" she sang, then shook her head. That didn't seem right. "You smiled at me?"
She thought of how Riku use to smile, a devilish smirk, then she smiled herself. She was beginning to miss the smile that use to bring so much trouble and yet, it brought joy as well.
"and said..." she frowned. "Said what?" she kept strumming, trying to get the words to form in her mind. "I love you?... Don't get me wrong, I love you..."
That worked. "But does that mean..." she tried to think of something else, then remembered Sora's face at the thought of having to say hello to Kairi's father. "I have to meet your father!" she giggled, then kept strumming, going over the part of the song she had so far, keeping her voice low so the boys wouldn't hear her in the living room. God knows what they were doing and though she knew they were sweet, they weren't exactly responsible. Besides, she was the only one in the house that knew that strawberry-banana smoothies did not a dinner make.
A crash was heard in the living room.
"I didn't do it!" Two boys punctuated in unison.
She rolled her eyes and heavy heartedly put away her guitar, mentally kicking herself as she wondered why she was planning on marrying one of them.
She didn't have to go far to survey the damage. She stared at the boys, then switched to the broken vase on the ground that seemed to use to have water in it. On the table was a bouquet of pink carnations.
She raised an eyebrow. "What happened?" she said, every syllable rolling over her tongue like water.
The boys exchanged looks and an "uhhh..." in unison.
Riku pointed at Sora. "Sora, here dropped the vase I was offering him for the lovely flowers he bought you."
"Was there any reason in particular that the vase dropped?" She watched with a silent glee as Riku slowly smirked, the same smile she had been hoping to see over the past few weeks. Sora squirmed uncomfortably.
"N-nothing." Sora mumbled, fidgeting under the gaze of both his fiancee and really, REALLY close friend. he sighed and got the broom to clean everything up. As he worked, Kairi picked up the flowers and kissed his cheek, practically prancing to the kitchen to make dinner.
He said it was nothing.
She was happy she didn't have to play referee for the battle.
It obviously wasn't 'nothing'.
Sora shivered, remembering what had happened. It was innocent enough, and the main part of what Riku said was correct. He just failed to mention everything else, like the sensual smirk and touches.
And the way his voice dropped in a sexual implying way.
The thing was, Sora had been so surprised at Riku's actions, he had dropped the vase out of shock. Perhaps if Riku had been playing the part of the seducer for the past two weeks, he would have been used to it. But it seems, after a short break, Riku's hormones were back in full swing.
Sora shook his head. Whatever he did, he wasn't going to remember Riku's lingering touches as they felt his shoulder or perfectly carved lips. It was for the best, after all.
He sat down in his place at the table. Kairi began placing dishes in front of him as Riku finished setting the table. The other two sat down, smiling. Kairi on one side, Riku of the other.
Kairi nodded. "Let's say grace." The three of them held hands and closed their eyes. Kairi's soft voice began to speak, almost in a lullaby way, about how they were thankful about being together and finding happiness, but Sora's mind wasn't on the prayer. Riku's thumb was massaging the palm of Sora's hand. Sora slightly opened his eyes then widened them as Riku's ice blue eyes pierced through his sky blue ones.
His other fingers caressed his wrist and arm. Sora felt himself tremble under his grasp. Riku smirked, feeling Sora shiver at his light touch.
"Thank you." Kairi said, before opening her eyes. Riku somehow managed to put his hand back in Sora's as Kairi smiled and began placing food on her plate.
"Sora, the flowers are really beautiful." Kairi said, smiling at him. He returned the favor.
"Where did you get them from?" Riku asked, innocently.
"Oh, I saw Aerith today an-" he gave a small squeak and sat up in his chair.
Kairi frowned. "What's wrong?"
Sora sat back, silently glaring at Riku. "Nothing."
Apparently, Riku's hands weren't the only thing that couldn't stay in one place. His foot had slipped out of his shoe and was had traced his ankle.
"What was that?" Riku asked, sweetly, "About the flowers?"
Mind games. Great.
"I got them from Aerith, today." Sora rushed out.
Kairi smiled. "She has the most beautiful little garden in the back of her apartment building. Have you seen it, Riku?"
"No, I unfortunately have not." His foot now treaded around Sora's leg, then began raising his pant leg.
Sora inwardly cursed himself for wearing shorts. He squared his jaw.
"Sora, are you sure you're alright?" Kairi asked. She felt his forehead. "You've barely eaten and you're sweating."
"I'm fine, Kairi." he mumbled.
"I don't think you are. You seem a bit high strung." Riku smiled as nicely as he could without smirking. Sora's face was growing redder by the second.
Riku's leg traveled higher, reaching Sora's inner thigh until...
Sora stood up so fast, his chair fell backwards.
"Vacation!"
Even Riku was puzzled. Kairi blinked. "Vacation?"
"We... vacation..." Sora spat out. "I think we all need to go on a vacation."
Kairi's eyebrow raised again for the second time that evening. "What, now?"
"As soon as possible." Sora almost sat down again, then stood straight back up once he saw Riku's smile. "It... it would make me less high strung." he said, embellishing the last three words.
"Oh, a vacation!" Kairi smiled, then stood up. "We should go to the Destiny Islands again."
"Kairi, there's nothing there." Riku said. "Just, you know, the island."
"And memories." Kairi said, remembering the secret area.
Riku and Sora exchanged glances. Memories, indeed.
"Enough is enough." she said, finally. "We're going to the Destiny Islands."
Three Days later...
Kairi stretched her arms as she walked onto the island. "That ship is cramped."
"Well," Goofy said, with his hand behind his head. "We haven't remodeled it since... well, for a long time."
Donald mumbled something strangely close to 'never'.
Riku got off next, running his hands through his hair. He surveyed the island. Apparently, a hurricane came through. Some things were broken, like the path to the place Tidus use to practice and the roof to the stairway was in pieces, but everything else was just as normal. He turned around to see Sora thanking his friends and watched as they piloted off.
"Well," Kairi asked, coming toward the two boys. "The only question is where are we going to plan camp?"
"We can all sleep in the place where I found the cloth." he said, pointing up to where he was mentioning. "Or the secret area."
Needless to say, Riku wasn't too fond of the secret area.
They spent most of the day working on rebuilding the island. Kairi smiled as she watched how close the two of them were working. At least they were finally communicating. Then again, they weren't exactly talking, really, but they were working together, so all was good and there was much rejoicing.
"Kairi?" Riku called up from the roof of the stairway. "Do you have anything to hold back hair?"
"You mean, like a scrunchie? Why, is that long mane of yours getting in the way?"
"Just a little." he said, throwing his hair off of his shoulders. He looked down at Sora, who was still hammering down on the nail. Smirking, he peeled off his shirt, tossing his head like a lion. He picked up his water bottle and took a gulp, partially closing his eyes. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sora look at him then look back down at his work. At first glance, it would seem as if he had no response to Riku's actions, but after closer inspection (after Riku put the bottle down) his face had turned red, and not because of the heat.
"Here." Kairi threw up a hair holder, which Riku swept his hair up into a low ponytail before continuing his work.
About half an hour more of this, Kairi called a halt to the work and allowed them to break, in which Riku took this opportunity to go back to his part of the island, a miniature island of itself. He smiled fondly at the paopu tree he use to inhibit before swinging himself over the tree trunk.
"You look comfortable," Riku looked down to see Sora staring up at him.
Riku smirked. "You came all the way over here on your break which you could have been spending with your fiancee and away from the notorious flirt to tell me that?"
Sora just looked up at him, not changing his facial expression. "I came here for a reason, you know."
"Really," Riku slid off the tree trunk and faced Sora, still shirtless and ponytailed, until they were barely an inch apart. "Now, I'm curious, why did you come over here?"
The smaller young man felt the need to breath deeper. "I... uh, just came to talk to you... you know, as friends?" the last part quirked up as a question accidently.
Riku made a face. "I don't believe that, Sora. I know you too well. You're lying." an arm snaked around Sora's waist.
"Riku, you can't do this."
"Why not?" the arm's counterpart too, wrapped around Sora's waist and they both pulled him closer to it's master.
"Well, Kairi-"
"-is sleeping. She went to take a nap in the camp area." Riku said softly into Sora's hair. "Now, I'll ask you again," he mumbled, lips caressing Sora's ear, "Why did you come over here?"
Sora moaned in response. He arched up a little as Riku's fingers found their way underneath his shirt.
"You're all sweaty Sora," his mouth began to kiss Sora's neck.
"You don't seem to find it much of a problem." Riku had to laugh at that.
"When it comes to you, Sora, nothing seems too much of a problem." he leaned into Sora's mouth, his lips brushing over them. Then after a moment's hesitation, he asked again. "Sora, what are you doing here?"
"I'm not even sure myself." he whispered. "I just... had to come here."
Riku smirked before closing his eyes and kissing the frail boy in his grasp. Sora's hands, just like before, reached up and wrapped around Riku's neck. He felt Riku part his lips and he willingly agreed to the experience. He felt around Riku's shoulders, searching for the silver hair to tangle through his fingers and came to the ponytail. He felt the scrunchie and his eyes opened to a single word that blasted in his mind.
KAIRI
He broke the kiss and pushed out of Riku's arms, backing away. "Enough, Riku... How... how could you!"
Now Riku was really confused. "How could I what?"
"You... allowed me to kiss you, how could you!" Sora felt disgusted with himself. "You let me kiss you... you... I..."
"You, what?" Riku snapped.
"Riku, I'm getting married, okay, married!" he pointed toward the campsite, "That girl up there is the one I'm suppose to marry."
"Suppose to marry, huh?" Riku looked skeptical.
"Listen, Riku, you can have feelings for me, that's acceptable. You can toy around with me and mess with my mind, fine. But I'm engaged. And-" he backed away from him again as Riku moved foreward.
"And, what?"
"I... dunno, I was doing fine without you messing me up." he reached the boardwalk and looked down. "I can't believe I kissed you."
"What, didn't you enjoy it?"
"Stop, Riku, I'm serious." he muttered to the ground.
"I am, too." he took a few quick steps, then after he realized Sora wasn't moving, he walked to him and lifted his face to meet his sky blue eyes.
He was fighting back tears.
"Riku," he said, softly. "I'm so confused."
He gave him a small smile. "Then you don't yet understand."
With that, he walked away.
Chapter owari
A/N: Wow, that was hard to write. The end was so depressing though... Now, I know what Riku's gonna do and I know what Sora and Kairi are gonna do, now I have to figure out how they are gonna do it. (hmm..., next chapter will have such a big implication, it'll make your head spin. Let me put it this way, if I give a chapter tease, I'll give away too much. one word: blush!
review review review or no more chapters for you!