Traverse Town.
Ah, the memories. How could I forget? Where I met Sora, and where I lost him. That doesn't make any sense, does it? I wouldn't think so. I mean, no one really understands my motives or questions. This Sephiroth guy is something else. Picture this-a murderer who had to pay the price and take on a penance to fix it all. Not too shabby. I actually admire this guy for trying to fix everything, just like I'm trying to do...fix everything. I can't wait to get back to Destiny Islands. There are so many things I want to say to them. I want to tell them I'm sorry...truly sorry for everything that happened, because all of it had been my fault in the end. Luckily, I was there to help Sora.
I really couldn't have made it without him.
As we neared the gate, Sephiroth turned to me.
"You have been here before?" he questioned. It seemed as if the soft note that he had taken with me earlier was gone. Oh well.
"Yes. I met Sora-" at this, I swallowed. "-here...this is where I turned myself over...like the idiot I am."
"The fact that you are trying to fix everything, young one, is better than thinking of the past. Try and think ahead to the future. You have your friends to be looking forward to, and I have nothing but the end of my existance once this last mission is fulfilled." Sephiroth turned ahead. The poor guy. I wish he did have something to look forward to, then this wouldn't be bothering me so much.
"But...your trying to fix it too, right?" I ask him, and the ghost of a smile flickered on his face. Heh. The first time I've seen him smile.
"I want to fix it, and even if I die before it is fixed, you'll be there to carry on in my place."
"C'mon, man, stop acting like it's the end of the world! I mean, you got a HUGE SWORD, you look scary, and you have a big wing. Who could possibly want to kill you right now? I mean, you look like the type who'll just do this," I gave an uncanny glance over my shoulder, my eyes narrowing slightly. Sephiroth's eyes widened at the look on my face. "And everyone will be like, 'CRAP!' and take off. I think you need to stop worrying so much. Your gonna get grouchy."
Sephiroth went silent for a while, but there was a thoughtful look on his face, like he was thinking about what I said. Good. He should be thinking about what I said. He looks better when he's not worrying about something. Live a little, you know? Sephiroth placed a hand on the entrance door, pushing it open rather easily. No wonder. He looks like he could easily lift two cars up, one on top of the other. I walked in. Yup. Same ol' Traverse Town. Same street lamps, same little moogles running around...pretty much the same. I shrug, and look behind me, to see if he's following. Indeed. Whoa, where did that come from?
"Still looks the same." I remark, and he nods.
"I've never been here before, but if you say so..."
Uh oh. Some guy with a sword with the handle of a shotgun is coming this way. Hmm. Shoulder length brown hair, and glaring dark blue eyes. Lot of black, besides the white t-shirt. And two women besides him. One in pink, who is looking at Sephiroth like he just stole something from her and waved it in front of her face. The other one, in light yellow and green, looking at him like she wanted to kick him in the nuts and run. Ah. Old friends?
"Sephiroth." the one in pink said quietly, a thin metal pole appearing in her hands. He shook his head silently.
"Penance." was all he had to say in return, and her eyes widened.
"A...is he...?" this girl was apparently very understanding, for her arm dropped limply to her side. The man beside her didn't say anything.
"Yes." Sephiroth nodded. "I...Aeris, I just wanted to say-"
"You don't need to say anything, Sephiroth." a kind look came into Aeris' eyes. "I know."
The girl in light yellow just gazed at Sephiroth for a moment before turning around and walking away. Her shoulders were hunched with fury as her hands balled into fists. The man in black (simple enough to call him, but that sounds oddly like a movie title) turned around to watch her, before the girl turned around.
"You expect us to forgive you?! After all of that suffering you put Cloud and Aeris through?!" she yelled at Sephiroth. Sephiroth only looked back at her impassively, his gaze training hard on her.
"...." He turned around, his wing twitching irritably, to face me. I looked up at him in wonder, a hand resting behind my head.
"Wow. They really hate you." I managed to say, making him smile.
"Perhaps." he nodded. "She-" at this, he pointed at Aeris. "-can understand. While that one...Yuffie, was it?...she despises me."
"And don't you forget it!!!" she yelled at him. Blacky (No, I'm not being racist! I JUST DON'T KNOW THE GUY'S NAME! ... ) placed a hand firmly on her shoulder, and she quieted down. "But Leon..."
"Shh." Was all the guy that I now have a name for-Leon?-said, listening to them talk.
"Yeah...well...um...I guess I'm helping him right now." I grinned, shrugging. Aeris' eyes focused on me. Wow. Her are like...search lights or something like that. But what's she searching for? I don't have anything of her's...
"Your heart is not pure, but neither is his." she said carefully. Ouch. That hit a nerve. How could she tell? Huh? HUH? HUH!? "I sense something...different about you, though. Are you by any chance...Riku?"
"How'd you know that?" This lady's freaking me out.
"You had a very simple life. Sora has told me all about you." Aeris looks at me kindly. Hrm...Sora...talked about me?
"What did he say? That I'm a backstabbing piece of scum for a best friend?" I cross my arms. "I've already told everyone before. I'm sorry. But does anyone listen to Riku anymore? Nope. His opinion doesn't matter because he's a double crossing little son of a-"
"-He didn't say anything of that caliber!" Aeris said, looking upset. "He was looking for you and Kairi! He didn't know anything about you thinking that he replaced you and Kairi with Donald and Goofy-"
"You don't know anything!" This came out of me in a burst of uncanny rage. "You don't know anything about me, lady, so step off and stop trying to help me and explain what I ALREADY KNOW I thought! Jesus, why can't you people understand I'm trying to fix it all? I feel bad enough without all of you going, Riku did this, and Riku did that...well, why don't you all stop for a moment and think about what YOUR DOING? I'm trying to fix my life! I have friends that need me!"
Sephiroth was staring at me like I'd just smacked him in the face. Oh, so your against me too, huh?! Just like the rest of your little friends standing around and acting like idiots! I turned around, only to have Aeris place her hands on my shoulders. I swear to god I'll...what...what is she doing? First I was standing there, next I'm being pulled unwillingly into a hug. Who does this lady think she is? And then she starts whispering.
"Listen, Riku, I don't blame you...you have a lot of anger...that you can't expel, am I correct?" I couldn't blame her for trying to form something she already knew into a question. This didn't stop me from being angry at her.
"Damn right I do!" I try to keep my voice down. It's hard.
"Sora misses you...a lot." she says gently, which catches me off guard immediately.
"He...does? But...after all I did to him-" She interrupts my question before I can ask it.
"Your his best friend, Riku, and nothing can change that. He understands that you have been mislead by Ansem...he understands that you had thought differently. Donald and Goofy are his friends, but they are also ordered to follow the one with the Keyblade, therefore, if you had gotten the Keyblade, if you hadn't chosen the darker path-" she held up a hand and continued whispering. "-they would have followed you...and don't think Sora would give up on you, Riku...he has a heart. Just as you do."
Oh, how much I hoped she was right.
Poor Riku. You can't help but not feel sorry for him, you know? The feelings, the whatnot...blagghhhhHH!!!! WAHHHHHHH!!!! My poor Riku! Sniffle As most of you have noticed, I've switched to first person view. I dunno, it's just something I can do. . Well, anyways, reviewers, pleeeeeease review, or I'll probably quit this damned story...
Riku: This is the only thing she has to think about! C'mon! SHE LEARNS!!!