Secrets Unmasked
By: Mysterious Unbalanced
Chapter Three
Destiny Islands
Riku reached overboard into the water and scooped some water and splashed it in his face.
"Feeling okay?" Sakura asked as she rowed.
"Not sure," he replied.
"I see the island," Sora called from behind Riku.
The sun was almost going to begin to set behind them. It had been a long day and now, the 7 of them would sit around a fire, tell stories, eat food, play games, and many other things.
The island came closer and the three of them could tell who was which child running around. The boat eventually came to the dock where Tidus was waiting to greet them and help them get off.
"Hello, Sakura. Riku. Sora," he said.
"Hey there," Sakura replied and smiled. She got out of the boat. Sora soon followed. Sakura held out her hand for Riku and smiled down upon him. "Come on, let's go have ourselves a good time." Riku nodded and gave her a confident smile. He grabbed her hand and she pulled him up.
"Come on, there all waiting," Tidus said as he ran up to the others. Sora laughed and ran after him.
"Shall we?" Sakura asked.
Riku grabbed her hand and nodded. They started walking towards the other.
"Hey you guys!" Selphie yelled happily.
"Should we start getting the things we need for tonight?" Tidus asked excitedly.
"Yeah, who gets what?" Lee asked.
"How about me and Lee get the wood for the fire, Selphie and Tidus can start getting our dinner ready, and Sora can get the beds ready?" Kairi asked.
"Sounds good, but what about Sakura and Riku?" Sora asked.
"We can get the dinner place ready," Sakura said.
"Okay," they all said in agreement.
They left the little meeting to do their assignments.
Riku and Sakura made there way out to the small island carrying a large sheet of wood. They set it against the tree and grabbed two logs. The lied the logs down and placed the wood over them.
"So what else should we do to prepare?" Sakura asked. In about ten minutes they had gotten everything together nicely.
"I don't know, I don't think there's much else that needs to be done, so we can just wait for the others," Riku said.
"Yeah, let's just do that, they should be be here soon anyways," Sakura replied.
Riku nodded and sat down. Sakura sat down right next to him. "You know you can tell me and Sora anything. We are always here for you no matter what. And so are the others," Sakura stated.
"Yes, I know you guys are, and I'm relieved for that. I don't know what I would do without you," Riku said and sighed. "But right now, I don't know . . . everything is so sudden. It's not fair."
"I know what you mean, trust me, I do." Sakura said also letting out a sigh.
"Really?" Riku asked. He was glad they were just talking about something other than his father. Sure the subject was about the same, but this was Sakura, and he could tell her practically everything.
"Are you really alright?" Sakura asked. "The last time you got through it, but it was a one time occurrence . . ."
It was true. This had happened once before when they were little. Riku's father had had a little too much to drink and had hit Riku some, but not half as bad as he had recently. And after that little incident, he hadn't touched beer, till now.
"I just hope this one passes over like the last one did," Riku sighed. The only person who knows about that was Sakura. And that's the way it was going to stay. "But unfortunately I don't think that's the way it will go."
". . ." Sakura didn't know what to say to that. Somewhere inside she knew Riku was right, but she wished he wasn't.
They sat there staring at the island from the little island.
"Well . . ." Sakura began, "I'm going to check on the food."
She leaned in at Riku and pecked him on the cheek and walked across the bridge. Riku sat there stunned.
"Can I have that cup please?"
Selphie handed Tidus a coconut cup.
"Mmmm, smells good in here," Sakura said walking down the stairs from the bridge.
Tidus was cooking something over a small flame, while Selphie was preparing a salad.
"Need a hand?" Sakura asked.
Selphie and Tidus did not answer they were deep in concentration.
"I guess I will pour the juice," she said.
Sora was up in the tree house. He was laying out blankets for all of them to sleep. When they had built the tree house, they had started bringing clothes, blankets, food, and other things just incase they were to spent the night on the island or not. Their parents knew that if they didn't come home that night, they would be on the island and shouldn't work. They had been going to the island since they were very little.
"So do you think we have enough?" Kairi asked Lee as they sat down to take a small break.
"Yeah, and there probably ready to start dinner over there anyways, we should head back," Lee said. Even after that comment was made, neither of them made a move to get up.
Kairi looked over to Lee and blushed. She remembered earlier that day when he had placed his hand over hers.
She knew for sure she liked him, but before this afternoon, she wasn't too sure if he liked her back. Now she had a pretty good idea if he actually did like her. Being the straightforward type she was, she asked the question she'd been dying to ask.
"Do you like me?"
"Yes," Lee replied. He really did like Kairi, and was planning on telling her soon. The little incident at her house had aided him greatly.
"When were you planning on tell me?" Kairi asked with a smile.
"Soon, but I think you figured it out on your own," Lee said smiling.
"Well you kinda gave it away, not that I mind," she said taking Lee's hand in hers. "Should we go back?"
"Alright," Lee said and they both got up and walked hand in hand back to the small campsite.
Selphie, Tidus, and Sakura were walking up the stairs and across the bridge to the wooden dinner table. They placed the food on the table and went back to grab more. Riku had made himself comfortable on the ground at the end of the table facing the island.
Lee and Kairi came to the door that lead to the other side of the island where all the other children were. They stopped holding hands just incase someone was on the other side. They didn't want anyone to know. They didn't want anyone to be jealous or anything like that. Lee pushed the door open and saw the three children bringing more food to the table.
"Okay," he whispered.
Kairi giggled. They took their shoes and socks off and walked through the water to the ladder on the opposite side of the small island where dinner was being held. Kairi climbed up first followed by Lee. Riku had already grabbed some of the chicken that was set in front of him. Lee and Kairi sat closest to the bridge, across from each other.
Sakura smiled to herself. She wasn't an idiot. By the look in Lee and Kairi's eyes, she could tell they had at least talked to each other.
Everyone else also noticed the odd behavior between the two. It seemed every chance they got they would look at each other and smile.
Tidus laughed. He was happy for them and hope he would get a chance with the one he liked.
Selphie also noticed and smiled. She was really happy for Kairi, and she would have to get all the details later.
Sora was one who didn't notice a thing. He just sat there and ate his food hungrily. Soon it was past midnight, and some of the kids had already retired for the night. Among the ones up were Tidus, Sakura, Riku, Sora, and Kairi. Selphie and Lee were in the tree house already sleeping. They had been up late the night before doing homework for Mr. Amedo.
The others were out on the deck outside of the tree house just hanging out. Kairi and Sakura were sitting on the railing while the boys were throwing a small bouncy ball against the wall.
"My brother's cool, isn't he?" Sakura asked Kairi, truing to make her spill the beans.
Kairi gulped, "Yeah."
"Yup," Sakura said. She couldn't hold it in any longer, "do you like him?"
"Umm . . ." Kairi began. "Yeah," she whispered.
"So did he ask you out?" Sakura asked. "If not, you two must have ate something that didn't settle." She laughed. "What I'm trying to say is the love stares you were giving each other didn't go unnoticed."
"Yeah," Kairi said blushing.
"I knew it!" Tidus yelled. He had been ease dropping on their conversation.
Sakura laughed as Kairi gave him a glare for listening in on their conversation.
Sora still had no idea what was going on. "What are you talking about?"
"Nothing," Sakura said. She smiled at Sora's ignorance.
"Well fine. Be that way, I'm going to bed!" Sora said. "Night," he walked towards the tree house. Kairi and Tidus soon followed.
Selphie had been lying on a purple blanket closest to the door so that she could ease drop. Tidus joined her on the same blanket for the same reason. They know Riku and Sakura were going to talk about something since they were alone together.
Kairi walked over to a blue blanket where Lee was sleeping. She got on the ground next to him and lied down. His back was towards her, so she pulled another blue blanket over them and she put her arm around his waist, kissed him on the shoulder, and closed her eyes.
Sora was taking a hammock out of a bag and hanging it on two hooks on the wall. He climbed in, covered himself with a blanket and soon fell asleep.
"Riku? Are you okay?" Sakura asked.
"I'll hold up," Riku said, "I hope."
"I'm always here for you."
"I know."
It was getting late, but Riku and Sakura didn't notice. A small campfire was still burning brightly down on the beach, so Sakura and Riku headed down there. They were laying on the sand, looking at the stars above them.
"So what are you going to do when you go home tomorrow?" Sakura asked.
"I dunno, supposedly I've been kicked out," Riku replied.
"Kicked out?" Sakura said surprised.
Riku only nodded. "I dunno where I'm gonna go."
"Maybe it's for the better, that was you wont have to go home."
"Yeah, that's the bright side," Riku sighed. "I don't want to go home ever again, but I don't have anywhere else to go, and that would be a little dramatic."
"I guess, but remember you always have a place over at our house," Sakura said. "If you cant go home tomorrow night or if you don't want to why don't you spend the night over at our house. Lee can stand sharing his room."
"I think that's what I'll do," Riku said. "Unless my father comes and finds me, which could happen."
"If that does happen, give me a call first chance you get even if it's in the middle of the night," Sakura said.
"Alright you have yourself a deal," Riku said smiling slightly.
"And don't hesitate to ask for help, I know way to many people who would be willing to give it," Sakura smiled back.
The began walking back up to the tree house.
"Hey," Riku began, "about earlier. Do . . . do you like me?"
Sakura nodded and blushed. Riku smiled back. They walked into the tree house and noticed everybody was asleep. There was a red blanket sitting open in the back corner. Sakura began stepping over people followed by Riku. Riku sat down first and pulled over two pillows for the both of them. Sakura grabbed another blanket as she sat. They covered themselves still sitting up. They were up to about 15 minutes later discussing what they were going to do the following morning. Soon they drifted to sleep.
Soon it was morning and everyone but Sakura and Riku were outside running around the island. Since the two of them had been up late, they were taking the time to sleep in.
"So were ging to the mall right Kairi?" Selphie asked.
"Yeah, probably tonight, sound good?" Kairi replied.
"Yep, you sure you guys don't wanna come?" she asked Sora, Lee, and Tidus. They all nodded, but then after a little convincing they decided that the girls would go to the mall and then they would meet each other at the local pizza plave to have dinner.
"So that's the plan?" Tidus asked. When Selphie nodded, he smiled. "Alright, I gotta get home, gotta clean my room," Tidus said. They all said their goodbyes and Tidus left promising to meet up with them later.
"I'll call you if anything changes!" Selphie yelled as he left.
Riku and Sakura finally got up. Sakura looked at Riku and she frowned slightly. "You eye doesn't look to good, you should get it looked at."
"Yeah, maybe I'll have the school nurse look at it or something," Riku explained. He didn't feel well at all, but was determined to make it seem like nothing was wrong. If he did let the school nurse look at it, she would ask how he got the bruises. Then he would have to tell her and if she found out that his father beats on him, he might have to go with a foster family or something and leave his friends.
Riku and Sakura made their way down to the other whom had already eaten.
"Did you save any food for us?" Sakura asked.
"Umm . . ." Selphie began.
"Yeah," Kairi said, "it's by the staircase."
"Oh, okay. Thanks," Riku said.
Riku and Sakura began walking to the staircase. Kairi and Selphie were still on the dock helping Tidus go home.
"Bye Tidus," Selphie and Kairi called as he began his journey home.
Lee was sneeking up on Kairi. He came up behind her as they were watching Tidus row away, and kissed her on the cheek.
"Hey," Kairi said as Lee began to run and began to chase after him followed by Selphie, "get back here!"
Sora was on the other side of the island. He was sitting on the beach, half in the water.
Riku noticed Sora was missing, "Has anyone seen Sora?"
"No, not since he was sleeping," Kairi answered in the middle of still chasing Lee.
"Come to think of it, I haven't seen him since last night, but he's still on the island," Sakura commented. "Why don't we go look for him?"
"Yeah, lets," Riku said. Sakura, Kairi, and Lee looked on the side of the island they were already on, and Riku and Selphie went to look on the other side.
"SORA!" Selphie yelled.
"Why don't you go look over there," Riku pointed in a direction. "I'll look over there."
"Alright," Selphie answered.
Riku soon found Soar sitting on the ground underneath the palm trees. He went over to him to find the boy in tears. "What's wrong?"
Sora looked up to see Riku and quickly wiped his tears away. "Nothing," Sora replied.
"Oh, really, then what's with the water works?"
"Just a few things are hard to deal with right now, that's all," Sora sighed. "Your not the only one with home problems."
Riku stayed silent for a moment, "What's going on?"
"I'd rather not talk about it," Sora said a little agitated.
"Okay . . . but you should really tell, I mean, you guys got me to tell . . ." He was cut off when Sora stood up.
"Yeah we made you tell, what's your point? You don't even care what's wrong and you know it. You only asking to make it look like you have sympathy," Sora said. "Save it would ya."
"What are you talking about?!" Riku asked upset.
"You don't care about anyone but yourself, Riku, we bother know it, this is all just a stunt so you can get attention isn't it?" Sora said mockingly.
"You know that's not true, what's wrong with you?" Riku said. He didn't like the way Sora was acting, but he knew it was just because he was upset. Sadness wasn't an emotion he was used to dealing with.
"Leave me alone Riku," Sora said as he walked off.
"Wait, come back here and tell me what gave you the right to be so damn rude to me!" Riku practically screamed at him.
"Go listen to someone who cares," Sora then went through the door back to the other side of the island and found the others. He put a smile on and told them he was just thinking about some stuff and needed a little alone time.
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