[A/N: All right, all right. I have an excuse (even though it's not a good one). I've been experimenting in other areas of this site (some of you might have seen me review in the Rurouni Kenshin section) and my muse just wouldn't shut up, so I had to write them down otherwise my muse wouldn't let me update...if you like Rurouni Kenshin, look out for one by me after this one's finished (/shameless advertising) Wait, before I end my advertising spree, if you haven't read any of Deplora's fics ("The Curse" or "The Fear of Being Alone" or her first one whose title I can't remember) go read it NOW!! (well, after mine of course)
Please, don't pummel me with old fruit. I've also been busy with service work and my new job. I was hoping that this would be longer, but it's all I could come up with. Yeah, a month hiatus just to come up with this. Good news though. I've written the last chapter, so I know exactly how it's gonna get there. I think this is the third to last chapter. The next one should have a lot of pivotal events and of course the big finale should soon follow. Eee! Anyway, read on my friend. Oh and I'm sorry for any weird formatting. My computer isn't functioning today...]
[DISCLAIMER: Would I be getting only $7.25 an hour if I owned Kingdom Hearts? 'Nuff said.]
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Thoughts/Emphasis
"Speech"
[Author's Notes]
flashbacks
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^_^ Now happily serving 131+ reviews!
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Life or Something Like It
Chapter 9: Chained by Memories
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After Yuffie had left the room, Aerith spoke. "Can't you do something about this?"
Squall merely raised his eyebrows. "What?" he asked, knowing very well what Aerith was talking about.
"Watch after her, and do what you do best: ask questions and get answers."
He suppressed a sigh. Whenever he wanted to get away from his work, it came running to catch up with him anyway. And Aerith wondered why he was always so caught up in his work, when, in reality, his work was always caught up with him. "Let me guess. You want me to give her weekly sessions or something?"
"Please."
"I don't know...I mean, she's made it pretty clear that she doesn't want anyone's help. And I don't think she'll like the fact that we all think she's mentally unstable."
"They don't have to be actual sessions...it can be over dinner, or breakfast, or something." Aerith put her elbows on her knees, and leaned forward with her chin cupped in her hands. "I don't know, I just feel that I have to watch out for her, almost like a babysitter or something."
Squall couldn't help the small snort that escaped. "Which makes sense...she's from Hollow Bastion," he added when he saw Aerith's confusion.
"What?" Aerith sat up straight now, puzzled.
"She knows about the Heartless, and she recognized Rinoa in the picture on my desk at the office."
"But...wouldn't she remember? Wouldn't she say something?"
Squall shrugged impatiently. "Maybe she doesn't remember us, which could explain why she hasn't said anything." He decided not to tell Aerith that she had indeed remembered him.
"I guess...I'd better get going though. Cloud's probably already at Tifa's."
He followed her to the door. "Oh, and Aerith?"
"Yes?"
"Take care, okay?"
Aerith smiled. "Sarcasm suits you much better than concern," she chuckled before closing the door behind her.
Squall sighed when he remembered that he had a ton of paperwork to do. Not feeling up to the work, he took the opportunity to go check on Yuffie, who hadn't left her room since she'd entered it. He knocked gently on the door and said, "Hey. You still awake?"
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Yuffie awoke from her stupor. She'd been staring blankly at the wall, immersed in her thoughts. Maybe if she'd said no he would leave her alone. But then she'd have to face him in the morning, when she was grumpy and half asleep. Sighing, she answered, "Yeah."
The door opened and Squall poked his head into the room. "You okay?"
"I've been better."
"When?" he asked, leaning against the door frame.
"Like when I wasn't being hunted down by a maniac...and when I didn't remember."
"So you're unhappy because you remember?"
"Sort of. I never really thought about it. I mean, I was in the present, the past didn't matter. But now I'm learning that the past is what makes you who you are."
"But you told me you didn't remember."
"I don't remember. And I don't know who I am."
"Cut the crap already."
Yuffie looked up at his sharp tone. She met his gaze, once patient and understanding, now annoyed and irritated. "What--"
"For someone who has gone through so much and survived, you complain and whine at every chance you get."
"Hey!" Her temper flared as she glared indignantly at him. "I do not!"
"Then shut up and let's have dinner."
Yuffie got up and resisted the strong urge to knock him silly. So instead, she settled for roughly pushing past him and headed for the kitchen. And just moments ago she'd thought he was attractive and understanding. What was I thinking? She really began to wonder if Aerith had made the right decision, leaving her with Squall.
Dinner was an unusually painful event. The tension was so thick in the air, she could almost feel it choking her. Either that, or it was the food, she mused. Yuffie seemed to get the impression he wasn't accustomed to cooking, and rarely did so. So she voiced her thoughts. "How did you manage to burn a TV Dinner?"
Squall looked at her briefly before replying, "I left it in the oven too long."
"Which is a problem, seeing as TV dinners are microwavable."
"Look, I know I'm not much of a cook," Yuffie snorted at this, "but I am constantly working. I don't get the opportunity to cook very often."
"So maybe you should make opportunity."
Squall kept his temper in check. Everyone seemed to be ganging up on him and his profession lately. Either he was putting too much effort, or not enough effort, he couldn't seem to satisfy anyone. "Or maybe you should make dinner if you don't like it."
"I've tasted better cardboard."
"And my paperweights have made better company."
"So then why did you take me in if you didn't want me around? After all, aren't I just a constant reminder of your dead girlfriend?" she asked, voice dripping with venom. She wanted him just to get angry and show that she had gotten to him. But she didn't, to her dismay.
"Yeah, you are a constant reminder of Rinoa," was the calm response. "But a memory is just that: a memory. It was real at some point, but now it's not. I took you in just to remind me of what happened all those years ago and repent."
"You think taking me in is going to make up for leaving me out to die?"
"Partially, but I figured I should save Aerith and Cloud the trouble of trying to make out in bed with you watching."
"Um, ew. I didn't need to know that. It was a yes or no question."
Squall gave her a look that clearly said, "You asked." He picked at his food before setting down his fork. "Chinese or pizza?"
Yuffie let out a sigh of relief. The guy did have some sense after all.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Cid Highwind cautioned, sticking a cigarette between his lips and lighting it. "Those car parts don't come cheap."
Sora straightened up after practically dropping the box unceremoniously. His back throbbed with a dull ache from the weight he'd been carrying. He knew he should've let Riku take all the heavy stuff. "Sorry," he apologized.
Riku came into the garage, holding a few boxes. "What's your hurry?" he asked, setting the load down gently.
"Nothing!" Sora replied a bit too quickly.
Riku raised an eyebrow, clearly doubting the truth of his friend's words. "Really."
"Just wanted to skate for a bit, that's all."
"Do you mind if I tag along? I haven't gone skating for a long time," Riku said, gauging Sora's reaction.
The box Sora was holding slipped from his hands and made a loud crash as it hit the floor. "Goddammit," Cid cursed. "Obviously since you're not up to working tonight, scram. Be back by ten."
Sora didn't question it. He grabbed his skateboard and jacket and gratefully took off.
Cid watched him go. "Hey, kid," Cid said to Riku moments after Sora left. "Follow him, will ya? Make sure he's not running out to do anything illegal."
Riku brushed his bangs out of his eyes. "Sora? Doing anything illegal? You must be kidding. He doesn't even jay walk because it's breaking the law."
"Eh, follow him anyway."
"Going..." As Riku set off on his skateboard, a frown creased his forehead. Just what are you up to Sora? His friend was the worst liar in the world. He wore his emotions on his sleeves, which made it horribly easy to find up what he was up to. He knew that from experience...
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Ansem came storming into the Wreck Room, drenched and dripping with water. All the kids in the room stared as Ansem rose a shaking finger and demanded, "Which one of you wretched brats did this?"
Yuffie tried to look as innocent as possible, pretending to look shocked that anyone would do such a thing. Riku shrugged and looked as aloof as he could. Sora...was grinning. Yuffie nudged him between the ribs. "Do you want us to get in trouble?!" she hissed.
"But it's funny!" Sora whispered back, just barely containing his giggles.
"It won't be when we get in trouble!" Riku said sharply. "Cut it out."
"I-I can't," Sora replied, shoulders heaving with suppressed laughter. "He looks like a wet sheep dog!"
"Laugh later when we're not about to get in trouble," Yuffie muttered as Ansem came over to them.
His golden eyes searched each of the three. When Ansem's gaze landed on Sora, he jerked a thumb towards Sora and asked, "What's the matter with him?"
"He's um, glad to see that you're not sick!" Yuffie cut in. "In fact, we all are! You might wanna get out of those wet clothes before you do get sick."
Sora's eye twitched. He didn't know how much longer he could hold it in.
Riku could've sworn that the windows shattered with Sora's high-pitched laughter.
Later, when the three had been put to stand in the corners as punishment, Yuffie still heard Sora giggling softly and muttering something about sheep dogs.
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Sora pushed himself along at a leisure pace, rolling aimlessly on his skateboard. He knew he should be heading home, but he found his skateboard taking him to Queens-to her house. Sora vaguely wondered if this was the kind of crazy thing love made you do. Stalking people was not only obsessive, he reminded himself, but illegal.
He couldn't explain it. Thoughts of Kairi just couldn't leave his mind. Ever since the night they met again, he skated to her house and waited for her white picket fence for her bedroom light to flicker off. Then he'd go home, mumble some excuse to Cid, and dream of her. Sora shook his head. If Riku or their new guardian, Cid, ever found out, he'd never hear the end of it. Cid was beginning to suspect something already, Sora realized.
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There he was, standing outside on the sidewalk and gazing up at her window. She never dared to openly acknowledge his presence. Stolen glances between the curtains alerted her that he was standing out there. Kairi rest her head in her hands, elbows propped on the desk. She stared at her literature book, reading the first act of Romeo and Juliet for drama class; but all her eyes saw was Sora. His brown hair that stuck out in all directions, reflective, blue eyes that came to life with whatever emotion he felt, cheerful smiles that lit up his face.
Kairi found herself standing by the window, hand poised and ready to pull back the curtains and confront Sora. She was curious as to why he'd stood outside her house for consecutive nights, waiting for her to fall asleep. She decided that she wouldn't allow Sora to leave that night without telling her why he hadn't said anything to her. Or at least ring my doorbell, she thought.
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Sora froze as he saw Kairi's silhouette appear in the window. "Sora?" he heard her call out. "What are you doing here?"
Sora thought over things to say. "I'm madly in love with you and I've been standing outside your window for the past nights to satisfy my burning soul."
Kairi's eyes widened. "What?" she asked, hoping for him to repeat what he'd said.
Crap, did I say that out loud? Sora thought fearfully. "Um, I...I really don't know." He picked up his board and said, "I'd better go."
"Sora, wait."
He turned around. "Yeah?"
"See you tomorrow night?"
Sora blinked. So she didn't mind him stalking her? "All right," Sora said uncertainly. "Tomorrow night."
"And maybe this time you can come inside," Kairi added with a smile.
Sora nodded and waved back at her. He stayed where he was until she disappeared from his sight. Suspicious Cid be damned, he thought. Kairi had actually invited him inside.like.a.a.a date? Sora came to an abrupt stop. A date? He supposed he would have to ask Riku for some girl advice. Sure, he noticed girls, but Kairi was the first girl he noticed. The only relationship he'd explored with a girl was the brother-sister relationship he had with Yuffie and Selphie. Yuffie. His heart gave a tug at the edges. He hoped that Yuffie was as happy as he was.
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Riku silently followed Sora. All this secrecy over a girl? He snorted. Well, well, well, he thought. His little Sora was growing up at last. Well, better later than never, he supposed. Though he couldn't help but feel as if he had lost. Even Sora's found a girlfriend before me, he thought. He was told that he was a lady killer, but he never found a girl that suited his tastes. Well, he had, but she happened to be his best friend and uninterested.
He shook the thought away as quickly as it had come. Riku had difficulty coming to terms with his emotions. He didn't even know what his emotions were. He guessed that he felt this way because he was partly responsible for Yuffie's arrest. He was the one who suggested they go downtown in the first place. Whatever it was he felt, he wished it would leave him alone, just as he had always been and would always be.
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The next day came a bit quicker than she would've liked, considering it began at a quarter to six. The alarm at her bedside tale went off, rousing her awake. Funny, Yuffie thought, instinctively slamming her fist on the snooze button, I don't remember setting my alarm...wait...I don't even have an alarm!
Her eyes snapped open in panic. Where was she? Yuffie sat up abruptly, but calmed down once she recognized her surroundings. She was in her guest room at Squall's place. The last thing she remembered was falling asleep on the couch after having Chinese takeout. A blush came to her cheeks as she imagined Squall carrying her into her room bridal style. Her cheeks flushed an even deeper red as she realized that all she was wearing was her skimpy uniform skirt and tight sleeveless undershirt. Deciding she didn't want to know how she'd lost her shirt, Yuffie swung her legs out of bed and grabbed her towel and a few bath things. As long as she was up, she might as well take an hour long shower.
To her dismay, the bathroom door was locked. She slammed her fists on the door, hoping that he would hear her over the sound of running water. She soon discovered that it was a lost cause, as she gave up minutes later. Yuffie sighed and trudged down to Squall's room. It was empty. Great. He was a bathroom hog as well as a psychiatrist. You sure know how to pick them, Yuffie. "Dammit, now what do I do?" she asked no one in particular. She looked around his bedroom. Annoyingly neat, just like his office, she noted. Black silk sheets...how fitting. Where's the chain and whips? She cringed at the thought. She'd been hanging around Deidros for a little bit too long.
Yuffie perched herself on the edge of the bed. At his bedside table was a woman she guessed was Squall's mother. He had inherited her deep cobalt eyes. Beside that picture was one of Rinoa and Squall joined by another boy the same age as Squall with sharp green eyes, blond hair, and a smirk that seemed permanent on his face. There was another of a different blond haired boy with cerulean eyes and a girl with hair that came down to her waist.
She picked up the picture to study it better. Her jaw dropped when she recognized the young children in the picture as Aerith and Cloud. She traced the frame with her index finger as she began to remember....
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The brunette girl slowly approached Cloud, unsure of what to say. She smiled sweetly before calling out softly, "Hi, Cloud."
The boy stopped swinging the sword around, just like he was trained, and turned to meet the girl. "Aerith.what are you doing here?" he asked, hoisted the weapon onto his shoulder.
Aerith shyly looked down at her shoes. "I just thought I'd see how you were doing.you're hardly ever at the castle anymore."
Cloud shrugged. "My master's been pretty tough on me about my training," he explained, brushing a strand of hair from his eyes. "I've been improving a lot."
"Really? Can I see?"
Cloud's cheeks took on a red hue. "Uh, sure, I guess." Nervously, he took up his fighting stance and did just what Sephiroth had showed him. Slash, parry, slash, block, parry. He raised a hand and wiped his brow. "I know it isn't much, but--"
"That was great!"
If possible, Cloud's blush deepened. "Thanks."
Aerith smiled. "Here. You must be thirsty."
He took the water bottle and took a long sip. "You didn't have to come all the way out here."
"I know. I wanted to check up on you to make sure you were all right and weren't training too hard."
Cloud smiled despite himself. "I'm fine." His smile turned into a frown. "Is that a little girl at the edge of the Rising Falls?"
Aerith's heart sank. "YUFFIE! I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO STAY WITH CID!"
The young girl turned around. "I did, but then he kicked me out cuz I said some bad words." She paused, grinning mischievously. "Wanna hear them?"
"Yuffie, get away from the edge, now," she ordered weakly.
"But Aerith, it's so pretty over here," Yuffie whined, teetering over the edge for a better look of the Rising Falls. It was a shame no one ever let her explore the Rising Falls. It was rumored that the King conducted strange experiments and some of the creatures he tested on dwelled in the Rising Falls. But Yuffie wasn't afraid of them. After all, she was the Great Ninja Yuffie!
"I said now."
"Aw, you never let me have any fun," the girl pouted, walking over to Aerith and Cloud. She stopped between the two and looked up at the both of them. "Are you two gonna kiss?" she asked, putting emphasis on the word as if it sickened her to say it.
"What?!" came the simultaneous reply.
"Squallie-chan was talking to that pretty girl that just moved here and I was spying and they said that you guys were...in love, and gonna kiss." Yuffie shuddered. "You're not going to, are you?"
Aerith took Yuffie's hand and smiled apologetically at Cloud, trying to fight the burning blush that crept up her neck. "She gets carried away sometimes," she said, shaking her head. "I'll talk to you later. See you."
Cloud, still too red to talk, nodded.
"Bye, Cloud-niichan!" Yuffie waved, bouncing around as she followed Aerith back up to the castle. "Now do you want to hear the new words I learned from Cid?"
Cloud chuckled as he heard Aerith answer, "I knew leaving you with Cid was a bad idea..."
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Yuffie hastily put the picture frame back in its spot. So she'd known Aerith and Cloud, along with a man named Cid back at Hollow Bastion. She began to wonder what else she might have forgotten. Her eyes fell upon an old leather bound photo album in the corner of the room next to a sleek black case. Her curiosity got the better of her judgment as she picked up the black case and opened it, along with another memory.
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TBC
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Some definitions:
-niichan: honorific used by the Japanese; used to refer to a brotherly figure
-chan: honorific usually used to refer to younger children, or it can be used among friends
^_^; Been reading too many Ruroken fics again
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[A/N: Yaaaaaay! Sora and Riku are back! I missed em dearly, and some of you guys did too. Anyway. I think this chapter was better than my last (whoa, I'm actually proud of my work!) and hopefully from here on out the chapters will be of the same (or better) quality. I was gonna put the third flashback, but I guess two flashbacks per chapter is enough. I have a bit too much fun writing the flashbacks sometimes. Um, as I've said before, don't expect quick updates. Give me like a week to even get inspired...or I'll get started right now if you leave some reviews.]
[Vulpes Lapis: Yes, he is a bathroom hog! I got that idea from you...thanks! *cough update cough*]
