BronzeToast: I have been having this idea in my head for a long time trying to write plot lines on scattered paper even napkins from restaurants! Finally since I have been sick since the holiday break I got out of bed and went to my computer. Inspired by Utada Hikari's song Animato from her new album Exodus.
Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts developed by SQUARE ENIX. Characters from FINAL FANTASY video game series: © 1990, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. Disney characters is a trademark of Disney and Disney Interactive. Written by Utada. © 2004 Batongirl Music Publishing (ASCAP). Produced by Utada & Teruzane skingg U. Recorded and Mixed by Goh Hotoda at the Hit Factory, NYC. Programmed by Utada and Pete Davis.
(Full Summary) Sora Rubens is immediately sentenced to a military school because he did nothing wrong. Why? The reason is for emotional purposes and financial problems (only his mother). His mother finds it difficult to raise her only child by herself thinking the Military Enforcement Academy will help by doing the job for her. As usual for every beginning of summer, his best friend in the entire world, Riku, goes to Savannah, Georgia's famous downtown candy shop, The Candy Kitchen. Without Riku's knowledge, Sora followed his friend secretly hiding under cars and behind benches wondering why he would always go to the Candy Kitchen and never return until the beginning of school term. He finds out the Candy Kitchen is not what he thought it was. Sora turns up on an unknown train in which is headed toward a hidden organization, Y.A.F.A.- young adolescent fighters in action.
"Animato"
Somebody
out there better get this
Not many people can do it like this
How
about some speakers to amplify me
How about rhyme to fortify
me
Life's messy so I clarify it
Simplifying things for
everybody
Chorus:
I need someone who's true
Someone
who does the laundry too
So what you gonna do
Please don't
forget to follow-through
I take my diamond shoes
Someone who
tries to be on time
Do what you said you'll do
I hope you like
to follow-through
All that I need's a bit o'practice
My
mind is set on bigger business
This is not a time for
reminiscing
This is something new and interesting
Why are you
trying to classify it
This is music for all humanity from
me
Dreaming of hip hop tunes
They say you've got the proper
tools
So what you gonna do
Keep doing things the way you do
I
take my diamond shoes
Someone tries to be on time
Do what you
came to do
I came to see you follow-through
Chorus:
I
need someone who's true
Someone who does the laundry too
So
what you gonna do
Please don't forget to follow-through
I take
my diamond shoes
Someone who tries to be on time
Do what you
said you'll do
I hope you like to follow-through
DVD's of
Elvis Presley
BBC Sessions of Led Zeppelin
Singing along to F.
Mercury
Wishing he was still performing
Ding Savannah's famous candy shop bell jingled signaling the owner that a customer entered. An unsettling gaze fell over the new customer from Louise. She put on a sweet smile, grasping the counter rag. Wisps of cold wind and hail blew threw the partially opened door as a teenager passed barrels and several shelves of assorted candy. He lowered his cap to the owner, shading his aquamarine eyes refusing to meet her stare. Streetlights swayed to the rain's patter above the wet empty streets. His cream fair-skinned hand reached inside of his brown cloak pocket, handing the woman a manila envelope that held hidden files of a secret organization. Louise nodded placing the stuffed packet into a metal tin behind the counter. With a swift motion of her finger, she beckoned the young boy closer so only they could speak and hear of the conversation.
"Riku, be careful now. I don't want to be informed of any problems coming from Y.A.F.A., you 'ere?" she narrowed her eyes giving the boy a scolding stare which he got use to over the years he knew her. "Make sure you air-mail me once you arrive at the camp." Louise wiped her hands on her chocolate-stained apron.
Riku Georges bobbed his head and rolled his eyes at his plump caretaker, wishing he could leave The Candy Kitchen to his favorite place. Y.A.F.A. "Yes, I understand. Write to you and stick with a buddy, got it."
"Ah, I almost forgot." The stout woman snatched the largest metal tin in the store and slid it toward Riku. "Go stuff the container with as much taffy as you want for your trip."
This movement they did began last year when Riku Georges was fifteen-years-old starting out as a Billa at Y.A.F.A.-Young Adolescent Fighters in Action. Unknown to many, Y.A.F.A. is a secret camp institute that helps teenagers (few preteens) prepare to brawl against darkness. Since last year, she allowed the new student to fill an empty tin, the largest container the store had, with The Candy Kitchen's famed delicious taffy free of purchase.
Louise Adams, personally and handpicked by the king himself, was hired to seek out youths among Savannah and other cities in Georgia for the intensive program. Only but a year ago when Riku Georges was of age for King Mickey's special curriculum, she continued to watch him carefully of the boy's actions. He was (or shall we say is) cool and collected for his age, but far from being the quiet type. Louise Adams noticed it too that he was ALWAYS curious about the unknown. One day as he passed by the well-known depot of candy goods, she called the boy over simply to question him of his ideas of the world in which he lived.
He was taken by surprise when he was asked a distinctive question on the matter because no one would take their time and situate themselves into a discussion with him about his real thoughts or opinions. He had a fairly good amount of friends, but he knew they weren't the real ones who cared for him until the end of time. Because he knew he only had one real friend like that.
His best friend he knew since he was in grammar school was and still is Sora Rubens. Sora Rubens was the single individual to inquire such delicate topics with him. And he answered them easily and truthfully conferring the subjects with Sora. Sora always had his share of concerns, but overall he always managed an upbeat attitude. He may have been simple-minded at times, but he always had a strong sense of justice lurking within him.
Yet the day when Louise Adams requested that he reply on his thoughts, he did not respond like he usually did with his fake cohorts. Riku Georges decided this might be his day when an adult would realize he is not merely a boy who doesn't know anything and that he acknowledges the world around him plus the wonders to it. He trusted her for some reason because… she believed him.
Her instincts were correct on the match. Riku Georges was perfect for the mysterious school. She told him not to run away once she spoke of her secret. He promised listening intently. She reported to him that Y.A.F.A. is a fine school where he could experience his dreams he wished ever since he was a child. Without a doubt, he wanted to go to the location she spoke of, eager to leave his birthplace he knew so well. Louise said, "All you have to do is… accept magic as true." He did.
Riku crammed the assortment of taffy into the can trying to fill as much watermelon taffy in, his favorite kind. "You better hurry," she warned wiping down the glass counter. "You don't want to miss the train." His mudded boots slid across the pinewood flooring putting the tin in a plastic bag so it won't get soggy in the crisp rain. He pulled up his hood fastening the top button heading for the door. "Before you go." She bustled around the counter and embraced him in a tight warm hug. "Remember, all you have to do is accept magic as true."
Unbeknownst to his best friend, Sora Rubens prowled the moist streets hiding behind scattered vehicles and park benches. His main goal for the day was to figure out why his best friend, a.k.a. Riku Georges, leaves for the summer to a hush-hush place he doesn't know anything about.
All the confidentiality commenced last summer when Sora was fourteen, the soon-to-be scrawny freshman at Mane's High School, and chose to play some hoops with his good friend Riku he knew since he was in kindergarten. Every summer was the same before this one. Sora and Riku ALWAYS hanged out together playing sports, or bicycling, or trying to get free candy from the portly lady at the Candy Kitchen. Good times. Good times.
He enjoyed spending time with Riku and his friends-Wakka, the soft-hearted kid who moved from the Pineapple Islands to Savannah and that carried a stubborn streak, playing the role as the dependable, pleasant big brother; Tidus, the cheerful, strong-willed, excitable boy who gets carried away with everything rather quickly; and Selphie (okay not Selphie) because she is at all times carefree, outgoing, always trying to be the leader of the group, and giving Wakka a hard time in the butt. Though this was not what he had hoped for, he learned to accept the fact that these were his friends. Or without them, he would be stuck in some garbage can thanks to some punkish seniors. Riku, Wakka, Tidus, (sigh) and Selphie were what he liked to call his possy (or gang of good friends).
"Wanna play some one on one?" Riku continued to stride trying to ignore all the annoying pestering questions. "Okay? I guess not. How about we set your cat's litter box on fire again? What about-"
Riku a little too forcefully shoved his best friend into the grass, Sora's head nearly smashing into a statue of an Indian memorial. "Get this straight, leave me alone. Stop bugging me!" He sustained walking through the memorial grave park toward the downtown area.
Sora lifted himself to his feet dusting off the dirt from his cargo pants. He blew on the scab that was starting to bleed. "Hey, what was that for?" he ran to catch up to Riku. "Where are you going?"
"None of your business," was his reply. Riku checked both sides of the street before he crossed ending up on the other side of the sidewalk corner next to the sub sandwich parlor, Subway. "Stop following me!" he yelled once Sora bumped behind him. A flock of crows spread away from the mossy trees as soon as Riku shouted. "What is wrong with you? Can't I get some time to myself?"
"What's with you?" he spat back at Riku. "How come you're like this? This summer we were going to finish our 1000 Craziest Things a Kid Can Do! We're only up to number 99 on the list!" Sora glowered at him.
"I'm tired of this kid stuff! I actually want to do something with my life! Go play with your wooden sword while I actually can reach my potential!" Riku marched passed the Moroccan restaurant.
"What are you talking about?" he jogged next to Riku panting. "Did I do something?"
"No," he was back to his normal composure. "No, you didn't. I'm sorry I yelled, but you have to know when it's done. You can't expect me to 'play' with you the rest of our lives. We're bound to grow up and move on to better things. Can't you see?"
Sora kicked at a rock that only skidded across the messed up old brick sidewalk stopping after a foot. "Listen, I was just wondering. You don't have to tell me. I'm just curious that's all." He admitted stuffing his hands into he side pockets.
"Just trust me," he demanded stopping in front of Sora. "Trust me and I'll come back, okay?" he put out his hand. "Okay?"
Sora rolled his eyes and nodded. "Yeah. Yeah. I trust you." He shook his best friend's hand. "I promise." Riku started to walk once more. "Hey, aren't you going to tell me where you're going?"
Riku shook his head waving off to Sora. "Don't follow me. I mean it."
Sora Rubens let his inquisitiveness get the best of him. He carefully followed Riku stopping behind brick walls every now and then watching his best friend's every movement. It pained him to disobey his friend's wishes (though not much), but he wanted to know of all the secrecy.
Ever since he found out he was punished (or merely signed up) by his mother to attend a military academy, he took any chance he got to escape. This time he wasn't going to be pushed around. He was going to be…assertive. Kind of hard when your mother is a single parent and you are little below middle class. Sora didn't care about the new name brand clothing or shoes his classmates were wearing nor the accessories. He wanted to enjoy his life before anything else went wrong.
It was no more than three years ago when his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. "Cancer is a disease when abnormal cells in some organ or tissue, in this case the breast, grow out of control and increase in number. When these cells form a mass it is called a tumor, which can enlarge locally and invade and destroy normal tissue around it or it can spread to different body parts," his mother's doctor explained pointing to the diagram of a female body.
His life was immediately shattered the moment the doctor clarified his mother's condition. Money wasn't a problem until his father left he and his mother for another woman, his mother's best friend, Kathy. Sure Sora's mother was heart broken but she was more concerned about taking care of her only son as medical bills took most of their money. She was resolute to being responsible for Sora in her unstable condition. He knew. He knew his mother was going to die, but he couldn't accept the fact that it would be now at her age of 35.
So her idea came to mind when a brochure of a military academy showed up in their mailbox of their small run down apartment. His mother would usually toss it out into the trashcan, but now she knew her son needed a better living environment other than where he lived currently. She did not anticipate him being sent to an orphanage after she passed on, but the military school was just the thing for Sora. He needed a home.
Sora gone pass an empty alley and a green graffiti dumpster holding a folded wrinkled newspaper over his head to protect him from the rain. No use to it because the paper instantly turned soggy in his hands. He ran up the slanted path big enough for two SUV's wearing his father's old tattered sweatshirt and his old jeans. His once spiked brown hair plopped down sticking to his forehead and neck. Ruff he ceased his tracks and glanced around the vacant lot. Nothing. He endured his trail. Ruff! Ruff! the barking began increasing its volume as he set onward.
"Who's there?" Sora shouted his hands in two small balled up fists. "Show yourselves!" Ruff! Ruff! a Dalmatian puppy scurried toward the teen its fur black spotted coat soaked from the downpour. Sora bent down petting the dog as it tried to lick Sora's hand. "Hey boy. Are you out alone too?" he checked the dog's red collar and tag. "Oh, your name is Lucky? I wonder where you're from." He flipped the dog's tag. "London? But we're in the U.S.!" the dog Lucky stood on its hind legs, its paws out as if it was getting a manicure. Sora patted the dog's head. "How do I know what gender you are?" he scratched his chin unaware that he was speaking to a puppy. "Are you female?" Lucky sat scratching its ear. "Okay, are you a male?" the small puppy barked nodding happily. "Maybe if your owners don't come looking for you I might be able to keep you."
The bell to The Candy Kitchen rang, the glass door closing behind its customer. Riku rounded the corner. Sora gasped looking around for a hiding place. Lucky ran toward the alley in which Sora passed. Sora followed calling to Lucky. "Hey!" he strained his voice so Riku could not hear him. "Hey come back!"
The hard rain beating died down turning into a light drizzle fog clouding most of the store windows. Lucky arrived at the end of the alleyway barking happily. Sora breathed heavily his hands on his knees. "Why are we here?" he followed the puppy to a chalk drawing of a train station. "What is this?" his hand lightly traced over the drawing. A message instantly appeared. He read:
"Cross your fingers. Close your eyes. Jump."
MP
Sora shrugged turning back out of the alley until Lucky vanished with a small poof. His direction changed toward the drawing. He watched as a small Dalmatian puppy ran about the station. Confused he checked the alley for any exits. Only one exit. He rubbed his eyes. "I must be really stupid if I'm going to do this," Sora muttered crossing his fingers, closing his eyes, then jumping into the chalk drawing.
A light summer breeze blew. The sun's bright rays of light shining the terrace. Sora's eyes fluttered open only to blink twice at what he saw. A red, black, and yellow train. Conductors. Teenagers in odd outfits all the same. Lucky tugging at his pant leg. "Hey cut it out," Sora picked up the puppy walking down the wooden steps of the terrace. "Where am I? I don't think I'm in Savannah anymore." Lucky continued to bark toward the dining car of the train. No on seemed to notice him. "What you want me to go on it?"
One of the blue uniformed conductors shouted ringing a loud bell. "All aboard! All aboard for the Disney Rapid!"
"Disney Rapid?" the train started to lurch forward. Lucky hopped on. Sora stood taking in a glimpse of the train station. "I don't know, but I'm sure I'll be able to find out." He followed Lucky climbing behind the dining car. "I think I hear some one coming." Sora looked around for an escape as soon as the train passed plains of grassy hills. He grabbed the bar ladder straight away ascending up on top of the black roof of the Disney Rapid. His foot slipped causing him to slide down to the edge of the train until a warm wool-gloved hand grabbed hold of him pulling him into a safe position. Sora rubbed his head uttering a small 'thanks'.
"Your welcome," a light voice accepted nodding assuring. She giggled putting out her hand. "I'm Kairi Paig," she introduced herself.
"Huh?" his brown spiked hair blocked his vision of her. He kept blowing the lock of hair away but it continued to prevent him from seeing her.
"I'm Kairi Paig," she repeated waving her hand in his face carefully putting the lock of hair behind another spike. "Nice hair do."
"Yeah, I guess. Where am I?" he asked trying with all his might to stand up.
"I'll tell you as long as you sit down. It's only for your safety among Disney Rapid," she explained sitting Indian style. He did the same pouting. "First things first, who are you?" she asked bluntly.
"I'm Sora," he answered. "Now tell me where the heck am I?" Lucky ran into Kairi's lap licking her palm. "Hey!"
"You should know, you know. This is Disney Rapid, duh." She patted the puppy's small head.
"Where is this train headed to?" he asked.
"Y.A.F.A. Like I said before you should know since you're a student there."
"I don't even know what Y.A.F.A. is let alone I don't to it!"
"No need to shout," she reprimanded. "So you don't go to Y.A.F.A. then?"
"No! That's what I'm trying to say!"
"So that only leaves one answer to who you are. You're a spy!"