Beginning of Chapter Five
Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts. If I did, yaoi fans everywhere would be the happiest people in the world.
Warning: This fic has not been beta'd.
Sora: Riku got to do the warning twice, so it's only fair I get to, too!
Aoi Nikko: No one said you couldn't, Sora.
Sora: No! It's not fair...eh?
Aoi Nikko: sigh Just go on and do it.
Sora: Eh-heheheh...clears throat This is a Shonen-ai. That means two boys are going to fall in love. If you don't like this kind of stuff, get out of the pool and go swim somewhere else.
Aoi Nikko: This chapter is dedicated to Animegirl who listened to me gripe when I really needed it! I LOVE supportive fans! So here's to you, Animegirl! Thanks bunches!! Here we go, on to the fic!
Chapter Five:
Promise
It had been an hour since the Razorfin attacked when Sora finally came to. He was lying on his side, his head propped up on something firm. Someone was stroking his hair soothingly, and Sora turned over on his back, eyes fluttering open, voicing a small groan as he did so. His cerulean eyes met tropical sea green.
"Whoa!" Sora bolted upright. He had been lying on a thick bed of seaweed, his head in Riku's lap.
"Are you feeling alright?" Riku looked at him with slightly narrowed eyes.
"Oog." Sora's head began to pound. What had happened? Sora remembered Cloud fighting a Razorfin, him trying to go and help and then Leon...
What the hell did Leon do to him?!
"Sora?"
The young Dorsalback turned toward Riku. "My head hurts. What in the sea happened to me?"
Riku placed his hands on Sora's shoulders and pulled him back down, covering his eyes to get him to close them. "You acted like a fool, trying to help Cloud fight that Razorfin. Luckily, Leon was able to stop you; although I'm not to thrilled on how he did it."
"What did he do? My head is pounding..."
"I don't know. Just take it easy for a little while, okay?"
"Where are we?" When Riku moved his hand, Sora peeped up at him. Riku's hands buried themselves in Sora's hair, massaging his scalp.
"We're in Slaptail territory, just within the borders of the main habitat. This is my Area."
"Oh..." Sora looked around as best as he could. An Area was a merperson's personal space, much like a bedroom. Riku's Area was a small, low cave with a large opening directly in front of them. Thick seaweed floated in that opening, disguising it and giving the space privacy. There was the seaweed bed they both were on, but the rest of the sea floor was covered with the shells of long dead shellfish, polished to a shine and placed to keep the sediment from being disturbed when anyone swam around. It was the nicest Area Sora had ever been in; since Dorsalbacks migrated as much as they did, no one bothered to keep one like this.
"When you feel better, I'll take you back home. Just rest for now."
Sora tried to sit up again. "Wait, Cloud-!"
"Leon and the rest of Tsunami were there to help Cloud out. He's fine." Riku assured him, firmly pressing Sora back down. "Worry about yourself right now."
Sora allowed Riku to push him back down and he closed his eyes when Riku began to stroke his hair again. "Thanks... for helping me back there." He mumbled softly.
"Well, you sure didn't make it easy for me." Riku sighed. "But it's okay. My Daisuki's safe and that's all that matters."
"Riku..." Sora rolled over on his side.
"Are you still playing hard to get? I don't get it, Sora. Why are you so afraid of me?"
"In case you haven't noticed, we've just met!"
"And? That means nothing. I told you, choosing a Daisuki is not something that happens over a long period of time. You see someone and you suddenly want to be close to them, learn all about them. It's like...you don't even have a choice. It just happens, like destiny." Riku ran a finger down the back of Sora's neck, smiling a little when the little Dorsalback shivered slightly.
"Well I...I don't feel anything like that. You're better off finding someone else."
The silence that followed Sora's words weighed heavily in the small area. Riku's hands never stopped their gentle stroking of the Dorsalback's hair.
"I don't want to find someone else. I already told you, it's too late. I've chosen you as my Daisuki. It's you I want."
Sora's cheeks turn pink and he jerks away from Riku. Why do I feel this way? What exactly am I feeling...? "I already told you that's a bad idea. What will you do when I go on migration?" Sora sat a foot away from Riku, his back to the silver haired Slaptail. Riku inched closer, reaching a hand out to Sora.
"I told you, it's no big deal. You'll be back, I'll wait."
"What if I don't come back for cycles? What then?"
Riku smiled gently at Sora's back. "I told you. I'll wait." His hand touches the brunette's shoulder. "I can wait forever if I have to."
"Well, what if I can't?" Sora gritted out. The hand touching his shoulder fell away. "What if I don't want a Daisuki I can't see all the time? When do my feelings matter?"
"Sora-"
"I don't think you've thought this all the way through, Riku." Sora turned to look at Riku, and the Slaptail's jaw fell slack in shock at Sora's words. "If you were serious about this at all, you would have realized all the trouble this would cause and left it alone. When you realized how I felt about it, you would have left me alone." Sora floated upwards a little and flicked his fin to exit the small cave, leaving a stunned Riku behind.
He hadn't gotten very far, however, when a hand grabbed him around the base of his fin and pulled him backward. Sora gave a little yelp and Riku grabbed his arms, glaring at him with angry eyes.
"No you don't. Don't you dare try that with me. That 'If you love me you'll do what I say' snail slime doesn't work on me!"
"Riku, let me go!"
"Yes, Sora, I chose you as my Daisuki. Yes, your feelings matter to me." Riku's gaze lost some of its anger. "But...I'm not going to ignore mine, or suffer without a fight. Maybe you don't understand how powerful this thing is...but before you dismiss me, why don't you consider my feelings?"
"W-what?" Sora blinked. Why won't he just leave me alone?
"Can you at least do that for me? Don't insult me with empty excuses." Riku lifted Sora's face so he could look the other merboy in the eyes. "Help me understand. Tell me why you are so afraid of me... and the promise I made."
Sora's eyes scrunched in confusion. "What promise?"
Riku let Sora go his eyes wide with disbelief. After a moment understanding set in and he began to laugh. Sora pouted at him, which caused the Slaptail to laugh harder. Sora turned away with an angry huff.
"I don't see what's so funny."
Riku pulled him into his arms, ignoring the immediate protests and struggles. "You are so adorable. You don't fully understand what a Daisuki is, do you? No wonder you're so scared!"
"Of course I know what I Daisuki is! It's a-"
"You know the definition, but you don't understand what it means. But that's okay, not many do." Riku released Sora long enough to swim around to face him and take his face in his hands. "Sora, I named you my Daisuki. That means that no matter what happens, no matter what you or anyone else does, I will always be there. I will always be at your side. In other words, Sora... I will never leave you."
"Riku..."
"My choosing you has nothing to do with your feelings, it's all about my promise to you. Even if you ultimately decide I am not your Daisuki, I will still consider you mine. No matter what the future holds, you have a friend for life."
Sora's eyes grew sad. "But...but that doesn't seem fair to you..."
Riku only smiled at Sora gently. "Daisuki." He murmured, pulling the Dorsalback toward him gently. His eyes drifted closed as he pressed his lips to Sora's in a sweet and tender kiss.
Oh, but this is fair, my adorable Daisuki...just you wait and see...
"Cloud!"
For the second time that day, Cloud found himself nearly bowled over by his blonde adopted pup, Tidus. He grasped the pup's shoulders and held him at arms length, studying the panicked look on his face.
"What's wrong, Tidus?"
"I can't find Sora anywhere! I looked for him and looked for him, but there's no sign of him! Cloud, what if...what if that Razorfin-"
"Stop that!" Cloud scolded, but his face was drained of all it's color. "Sora was fine when I got to him, and Tsunami chased Se- er, the Razorfin out of the area."
"Then where-"
"We'll look for him." Cloud interrupted gently. "The whole community will look. Don't worry, we'll find him."
Tidus followed behind Cloud, worry still causing him to think the worst. Why did he leave Sora with that Slaptail anyway? The fool could have gotten his brother hurt or killed or-
Waaaaaiiiit a second!
"Cloud?" Tidus called, his voice strained.
"What is it Tidus?"
"The Slaptails would have been the last to have seen him, right?"
Cloud stopped and looked at Tidus. "Yes, there was a Slaptail pup that was pulling Sora out of the area..." And Leon was trying to put silly ideas like leaving the community into Sora's head... "He could be in the Slaptail's Habitat." Cloud's eyes narrow, this was completely unacceptable. They should have at least brought him home!
"We...should get the community to help look still, it's a big area." Tidus said, not wanting to admit he was afraid. He looked up to his adopted father, but Cloud had already swum off. He floated there a moment, wondering about what to do, before concern for his brother caused him to hurry after the older Dorsalback.
He stuck close to his father when they entered the Slaptail Habitat, trying to stay from underfin, but not allowing Cloud to get too far ahead.
"If you're scared, you should go back home." Cloud said gently. Tidus shook his head furiously.
"No! I'm worried about Sora." Tidus said stubbornly. Cloud shrugged.
"Well, okay, but if you're gonna help, look around here while I go find Leon. If you run into any trouble, swim home immediately, understand?"
"You're leaving me?" Tidus squeaked.
"You want to go deeper into Slaptail territory?"
Tidus shook his head. Oh, no, no, no...he certainly didn't want to do that. It was much safer here near the outskirts of their Habitat. Cloud nodded at him and began to swim off.
"If you see Sora, take him home."
"Yes, sir." Tidus said as Cloud swam away. He sighed and turned to begin to look for his brother. Just as he was about to call for him, his extremely sensitive ears picked up a faint sound.
"...doesn't work on me!"
Someone was shouting. What was going on? Like any other Dorsalback pup, Tidus was curious, and that curiosity made him momentarily forget his fears. He swam in the direction the sound came from, reaching a quiet area with a large rock surrounded by seaweed. Sudden laughter caused him to freeze.
"I don't see what's so funny."
That was Sora's voice! So he was here in Slaptail territory!
"You are so adorable. You don't fully understand what a Daisuki is, do you? No wonder you're so scared!"
Eh? That sounded like Riku...
Waitaminute...Riku?!? That Slaptail was trying to do something to Sora the last time they were alone together. He called Sora his Daisuki and tried to do something weird! Well, this time, Tidus would protect his brother from that perverted Slaptail. Tidus mustered up his courage and swam around the large rock...
...and gaped in horror at the sight of his precious brother in the arms of the hated Slaptail, who had his face pressed up against Sora's in a manner that was not acceptable at all.
"That...slimy little..." Tidus shook with rage and clenched his fists, fully prepared to swim over there and snatch his brother away from a fate worse then death.
"TI-DUS!"
WHAM!
Tidus found himself on the ocean floor, a young Tropi mermaid attached to his waist.
"Ohmygosh! Icantbelieveitsyou! IwasjustabouttogoaskRikuwhereyoulivedandhereyouare!" The Tropi said rapidly in her excitement.
"S-Selphie?" Tidus said, recognition sparking in his eyes.
"Yep! You remembered!" Selphie giggled and let Tidus up, dancing around him while she giggled at him. "What are you doing here? Are you looking for me?"
"Er, no...I was looking for my brother, Sora." Tidus said, pointing.
Selphie's disappointed look only lasted till she saw the two merboys off in the distance. She blinked a couple of times before taking a huge, happy gasp.
"Ohhhhh! Wooooooow! Are they Daisuki's? Oh how romantic! We shouldn't disturb them!"
"This is not a good thing!" Tidus hissed. "That Slaptail is doing horrible things to my brother and I am going to stop it!" He went to swim over, but Selphie grabbed him and pulled him back.
"Nooooo! You can't! Don't disturb them! It isn't riiiiight!"
"Let me go! I have to rescue my brother!" Tidus growled.
"But if you try it that way, all you will do is make it worse! Daisuki's aren't something one can trifle with! The last time someone tried to interfere, it ended in disaster!"
Tidus stopped. "Disaster?"
Selphie nodded. "Yes. According to the leader of us Tropies, interfering with a Daisuki couple will bring misfortune. Sora could end up hating you!"
"Hating...?" Tidus frowns. "But...I can't just let that Slaptail do whatever he wants to my brother! There has to be some way I can stop him!"
Selphie pouted. "But they're so cute together, and Riku needs a friend..." She sighed. Tidus wasn't even listening to her. Maybe she should try to help Riku by enlightening Tidus? She grinned, it was a great idea!
"Hey! Why don't you come with me and talk to my leader?"
"What good would that do?" Tidus asked, angrily.
"My leader, Aerith, is the authority on Daisuki's. She knows everything there is to know about them! She could help!"
"Hmmm...you might be right. If I knew more about what a Daisuki is, I might be able to separate them without making Sora hate me." Tidus nodded. "Right! That's what I'll do! Take me to meet Aerith!"
"Yay! Tidus is coming to my Habitat! Whee!" With that, Selphie grabbed on to Tidus's wrist and pulled him away, the blonde Dorsalback pup wondering if he had made a wise decision after all.
With a satisfied sigh, Wakka dropped the dishcloth on the counter and wandered out of the small kitchen to look for Cid. He found him still sitting out on the porch, finishing up another cigarette.
"You smoke too much, you know?"
"Shut your damn yap kid. You finish the kitchen?"
"Ya."
"Good. Why don't you go play or something, and stop bothering me about my habits." Cid said gruffly, but he ruffled Wakka's hair affectionately.
"Ya, okay, just cut it out!" Wakka grabbed his shoes and put them on as he hopped down the steps. "I'll be back in time for dinner!"
"You better." Cid growled, but he was teasing. Wakka waved at him as he ran off down the beach.
"So what am I gonna do?" He wondered. He didn't feel like looking for the other kids, and he didn't want to go find Kairi and do some more spying. Wakka slowed down to a slow walk, kicking up sand as he placed his hands behind his head. Someone's long shadow fell across him, and he jumped in surprise.
"You look like you need some work to do." A calm and quiet voice said as a large hand came down upon his head.
"Aw, come on Auron, not more chores. I already cleaned the kitchen today!"
"You did?" Auron looked down at Wakka amused. "So you've already been home, hmm?"
"Ya, I had a report for Cid." Wakka grinned up at Auron from under his huge hand. "Uncle Shu almost caught a mermaid, but they cut the net and got away."
"Hmmm..." Auron said thoughtfully, taking his hand away.
That wasn't the response Wakka expected. "What's up?"
"I passed by Shu's house and there was quite a racket coming from his basement."
Wakka sighed. "I suppose you want me to go over there and find out what's going on, don't you?"
"If you don't mind. Go over and stay for dinner or something. Tell me what you see and hear." Auron said quietly, smiling at his adopted son's response.
"But I promised Cid I'd be home for dinner!" Wakka protested.
"Don't worry about Cid. You go do what I requested you to do. You're the only one he'll open up to."
"'Cause I'm a kid." Wakka said eyeing Auron. "You know, you and Cid are wrong, sending an innocent kid like me to do your dirty work."
Auron lifted an eyebrow at the statement. "You are not innocent, Wakka."
Wakka held up his hands. "Okay, I'll do it. Someone has to protect the merpeople, ya?"
"Ya. Thank you, Wakka."
"Sure thing." With that, Wakka waved and ran off. Auron smiled and turned to continue on to the house.
"I told Cid to clean the kitchen." He muttered to himself. "I'll deal with him when I get home."
"Papa?" Kairi called down to where her father was working on who knows what in the basement. "Papa? Dinner's ready."
The only sound she heard was the hiss of the machines her father used in his undersea research. Kairi timidly edged downstairs, knowing Shu never liked to be bothered when he was seriously working.
"Papa?"
Shu jumped and turned around, holding a blowtorch. He turned it off and lifted the mask he had on to protect his eyes.
"Kairi, what are you doing here? I thought I told you not to come down here when I'm-"
"But mom sent me down to get you." Kairi interrupted. "Dinner's ready-" Kairi's eyes grew huge when she noticed the strange clear box that was behind Shu. "Papa, what is that?!?"
"Oh..." Shu turned around to place a gloved hand on the box. "I had an idea. This is my new trap."
"That clear box?"
"Well as soon as I waterproof it so it won't leak, it'll be ready. What I'll do is place it in the water and disguise it to look like a cave. When a mermaid goes inside, the door will snap shut, and we have our mermaid. I'm going to attach some hooks to it so when we catch one, all we have to do is attach some chains and pull it up."
"Wow! But...how will you get the door to shut when they go inside?"
Shu's smile faded. "I...haven't thought about that part yet. I'll think of something!"
"I could ask Wakka. He's learning about traps and stuff from uncle Cid. He'd be happy to help."
"Ah, that's a good idea. Couldn't ask Cid himself, the man has no head for science. Good thing his son is different, but then, he doesn't share his genes at all." Shu smiled. "Unlike Cid, the boy is actually pleasant. Nasty accent though."
Kairi giggled. "Oh papa."
"But anyway, we should probably go on and eat before your mother gets angry." Shu chuckles as he took off his mask, apron and gloves. Kairi turned back to the stairs, her father following her up. As soon as they went into the kitchen, the doorbell rang.
"Kairi, sweetie, can you get that?" Kairi's mother asked her. She looked at her husband. "You go wash your face and hands!"
"I am not dirty!" Shu protested teasingly, trying to whine like a child. His wife whacked him playfully on the shoulder with her oven mitt and chased him from the room. Kairi giggled at them and ran to answer the door.
"Hello, welcome-ohmygosh!" Kairi squealed, frightening the boy standing on her doorstep. "Papa and I were just talking about you, Wakka!"
"Uh, only good things I hope..." Wakka said with a nervous laugh. "Hey, Cid and Auron are having another fight...you guys mind if I have dinner with you?" It was the one lie that never failed to get Wakka in Kairi's house for dinner on such short notice. Kairi's mother, being Cid's sister, knew how her brother was and never questioned Wakka's claim. In fact, she would always hustle him inside and mother him like she was sure he must really need.
"Aw, again? Well, I'm sure mom and papa won't mind. In fact, papa wants to talk to you!" Kairi dragged her cousin into the kitchen. "Mom! Wakka's going to eat with us again!"
"Hello Wakka." Kairi's mother said with a smile. She went over and gave him a big hug and kiss before pushing him toward the bathroom. "You know the drill, you're over here enough."
"Hello, Auntie." Wakka said. "Thanks for having me on such short notice."
"Nonsense. You're always welcome here. Go on and wash up so we can all eat."
"Ya, okay." Wakka walked toward the bathroom, only to run into Shu. "Hey, uncle Shu."
"Wakka! Just the boy I want to see. Here for dinner again, eh? Might as well live here." Shu chuckled and Wakka forced a smile. "Think you can stay a little while after dinner? I have something I want to ask you..."
Those fools in Tsunami thought they were so clever, thought they were so powerful. In reality, they were all fools that tried to stop the inevitable. No one could catch a Razorfin. No one, not even a mighty Slaptail, could ever hope to be able to stop him.
Not when it came to something he really wanted.
Sephiroth lazily navigated the waters of the Dorsalback Habitat, thinking of a way to approach his Daisuki, Cloud. It had been cycles since he had last seen him, yet it seemed like ages to him since he had been chased off by both the Slaptails and the Dorsalbacks.
He and Cloud had both been young when they first met. The blonde had been exploring the perimeter of the Dorsalback's temporary Habitat, careful to obey the rules and stay within the actual boundaries. Sephiroth had just had a satisfying kill, so normally he would have ignored the slim pup, but there was something about him that made him interested in the curious bundle of energy near him. Sephiroth decided to watch him as a potential meal for later, yet, in the days that followed, he grew fond of Cloud, and kept putting off the time to chase and kill him, even though he had many chances to do so.
"Cloud...was always so alive. He was so curious and never afraid of anything." Sephiroth mused, his thoughts still in the past. "He was the first merperson that wasn't afraid of me, the first to offer me his trust."
When Sephiroth finally discovered what it was he was feeling, he thought the only way he could get what he wanted was to take it. After all, that was how all Razorfins lived. They took what they wanted, because no one would give it to them. Sephiroth chased Cloud down, caught him and dragged him beyond the safety of his Habitat. When it became clear the Dorsalback couldn't get free, he demanded to know what Sephiroth was going to do to him, his eyes defiant and unafraid. This only deepened the feelings the Razorfin had for Cloud, and his answer was very simple.
"I mean to make you my Daisuki."
Cloud didn't laugh, he didn't shrug him off and he never ridiculed him either. Instead, he agreed to spend some time with Sephiroth, just to see how he felt. All he asked was that Sephiroth let him see the real him, so he could make an accurate decision. At first Sephiroth had no intention to do as Cloud asked, but at the steadfast look in those blue eyes, he had to agree. He had no choice but to agree.
They began to meet regularly after that, and eventually, Cloud named Sephiroth his Daisuki. Sephiroth couldn't have been happier, and he made sure Cloud was happy too. His memories of Cloud afterward were full of the Dorsalback's happy, smiling face...
...Except for the very last memory he had of him.
Apparently, Sephiroth wasn't the only one who loved Cloud in that way. Another young Merman, Leon, discovered their secret. In his jealousy, he informed both the Dorsalback community and the Slaptail pack, and together they literally pulled them from each other's arms. Sephiroth wasn't going to allow himself to be so easily driven away, and he fought with all he had, but he couldn't stand up to so many, and he had to flee.
The last he had seen of Cloud, the pup was being restrained by Leon, the blonde's honest blue eyes filled with fear and sadness. His hated enemy had his arms wrapped around his Daisuki's waist; his own eyes filled with a hatred that went deeper then any he had ever seen. His innocent Cloud, his Daisuki, the only one he had to call his own...he wouldn't see him again for fifteen cycles.
Those fifteen cycles were pure hell for him. Sephiroth spent a cycle recovering from injuries and getting stronger; training for the day he would take Cloud back. Yet, when he was finally ready, the Community had moved on, and no one knew where. Sephiroth chased after them, following any lead he had, hunting down anything that dared cross him, even his own kind. He became feared by everyone, and he hoped the spread of his name would bring his Daisuki to find him.
But it never did. Cloud never came, and so Sephiroth continued to search. The years made him bitter and angry, and he came to hate the Dorsalbacks and Slaptails more then any other merperson. He began to hunt only them, and he didn't care at all how old or young they were.
Then one day, as he was chasing three pups, to of them Dorsalbacks, one a Slaptail, he finally came across Cloud. He was older and stronger, yet was still as beautiful as he was fifteen cycles ago. Finally, finally Sephiroth was able to hold Cloud in his arms again.
"And once again, that Slaptail interfered. Something must be done about him..." Sephiroth stopped as he saw the Dorsalback community swimming peacefully inside their Habitat.
"Just as soon as I eat."
Author's Nonsense:
Snail Slime- Bullshit
Underfin- well, Merpeople don't have feet so...
Wow, finally chapter five, eh? It's been awhile, and I am very sorry for the delay. I got caught up in a contest and some horrid Riku/Sora writer's block. bows Gomen nasi, mina-chan!
So, was this chapter worth the wait? Probably not. As you can tell, everyone voted for everything! Bad readers, making more work for me! Bad! Anywho, I guess you want your choices, eh?
A) Wakka does a little sabotage. (AND meets a merperson!)
B) Tidus makes plans to rescue his brother (with a reluctant Selphie as a partner in crime)
C) Riku teaches Sora that there's nothing to be afraid of. (heh)
D) Cloud and Leon have a little...talk. (More like a screaming angst fit.)
There you go. Only four this time, you meanies. Don't forget to review! I have to run away and finish my one-shot, "Blue", and then start chapter nine and ten of "When all things come back to you". So, I will be a busy girl, don't you worry. Just remember, many reviews make me write faster, so review! Whelp, gotta go!
Ciao!
