Love Across Worlds - Chappie 13: Macalania
Disclaimer: If I owned it, Riku would notbe SO alone.
Glor: Not much to say to a non-existent audience so here. Oh! I bought and played through KH: CoM. It's SO fun. I loved being Riku in Reverse Rebirth. The best game! Almost better then the original but without the voiceovers, so it's not as fun... I'll shut up now, before I start spouting spoilers...
Dedication: To all my reviewers but especially my newest one, YuniX-2! I haven't lost inspiration... I'm just have a bit of writer's block (I have the whole story in my head. It just doesn't want to get typed out), I don't have a lot of time, and I'm a tad lazy. I think once KH2 comes out I'll be writing more. I'm gonna buy the import this summer! I'm not waiting until December! Forget that I don't understand Japanese! (smiles) But I'm gonna learn it!
Leiko looked around the hall of the temple they were, brought to from Luca. Nooj had talked her and Cloud into going to 'Bevelle' and that his friend the Preator had most likely already found their friends.
'Hmph... Friends... Yeah, right.' she thought bitterly as she saw who she presumed was the Preator, followed by Riku and Amaya shortly behind him.
Amaya spotted Leiko and Cloud before Riku, which caused a grin to spread across her face. Once Leiko saw her grin, she scowled at her and Amaya's face fell. Amaya scowled back in an attempt to show her sister that she does not affect her but she failed miserably and caused Leiko to smirk at her expense.
"These are your friends then?" Nooj questioned Leiko, "You must know her by the way you two exchanged scowls."
Leiko made an 'hmph' sound, "She and I are not friends; it's more like a forced alliance." She answered as she sat down in a chair by the huge table in the middle of the room while Riku and Amaya followed in suit at the other side of the table.
Cloud sat in a chair next to Leiko, "Now, now, Leiko, that's a nice thing to say about your sister." Cloud chastised sarcastically.
"Shove it, Spiky." Leiko answered scathingly but Cloud just responded with a small smirk, which only proved to infuriate Leiko more so.
"Ahem." the Preator coughed, "Sorry to interrupt this reunion but we have important matters to tend to. For one, where did the 'heart snatchers' come from and why are they in Spi-"
"Riku! Amaya! Leiko! Cloud!" Kairi's voice exclaimed, cutting off Baralai mid-sentence.
Kairi came running in with Sora whom was shortly followed by Yuna and Tidus. Kairi hugged Amaya and Riku then proceeded to hug Leiko and Cloud. Out of the four, Leiko and Cloud were the most surprised by the sudden hug.
"I'm so glad that you're all alright! I thought maybe the Heartless got to you!" Kairi explained and the smiled, "It's good we're all together again..."
Sora smiled and nodded in agreement then turned to the Preator and the Meyven, "So... I'm guessing that you guys want to know about the Heartless, huh?" he said as he rubbed the back of his head.
Leiko was the first to leave the room after the discussions about the Heartless. They were talking about it as if it was some political problem you could be rid of in a matter moments. It sickened her. There will always be darkness, pure and simple. 'But then again nothing is ever pure and simple, is it?' She asked her self.
Angrily, she went down the halls of the Bevelle Temple not knowing, or caring for that matter, where she was going. No one had followed her and for that, she was glad. She did not want to deal with people. She was sick of them. Most were not much better than Heartless.
As she made her way through the temple, she found herself in a maze that was dark, foggy, and just perfect for her state of mind. Something in her mind clicked, and she drew her katana from its sheath.
Heartless were starting to appear around her, but as soon as they emerged from the shadows of the floor, she slashed into them with her katana, making them disappear quicker then they had appeared.
"Not even challenging..." she muttered as she continued down foggy path.
"A shame," a voice said from the darkness, "that the Heartless serve no entertainment to you."
Leiko stopped and turned sharply towards the voice. She tried to make out the figure in the fog and once she had a vague idea where the person she hurled her katana towards him like a boomerang.
She heard her katana come whirling back to her but she was surprised when it came back with not a single drop off blood on it, 'There's no way I missed!' Leiko thought angrily as she saw the figure in the shadows come out into her line of sight.
Leiko held the hilt of her katana tightly as she went into a defensive stance, "What the hell are you?" She asked vehemently.
A ghost of a smile fell upon Seymour's lips, "A dead soul. My name is Seymour Guado I like to offer you a way to sate your bloodlust." He answered as Leiko scrutinized him.
She tilted her head up in defiance, "And if I were to say I'm not interested?"
His face fell into a slight frown, "We'll have to do this the hard way then." Seymour replied as he waved his hand and fiends along with the Heartless surrounded Leiko.
Leiko's eyes widened a fraction and she glared at the ghostly figure, "You think they scare me? I'll just bring 'em all down!"
Seymour's smile returned with a vengeance, "Quite untrue. The fiends I've called all have hard shells. You may find it difficult to kill them quickly if you cannot pierce through their skin."
"Pfft." Leiko scoffed as she destroyed the Heartless in one stroke of her sword but the fiends, as Seymour had said, were not going down as easily.
Leiko then stabbed her sword into a fiend only for two other ones to crash into her from behind. She grunted as she hit the ground but quickly jumped back up. 'Damn, how the hell am I going to beat them if my sword can't even damage them enough for a kill!' She thought as she was helplessly backed into a wall.
She screamed as a pain shot through her right arm where her wound was. The fiends disappeared and Seymour's face contorted in slight shock. "What the fuck...?" She asked aloud as Seymour's shock turned into recognition.
With his sudden realization, Seymour disappeared leaving Leiko alone in her confusion. She then succumbed to the pain and slid to the floor. Leiko tried to straighten out her thoughts as the pain subsided somewhat from her arm. She shook her head as she heard the sound of hurried footsteps.
"Leiko!" Kairi called out to her sister as she ran towards and pulled her into hug causing Leiko to wince, "Oh! Is your wound acting up?"
Leiko nodded silently with another wince as Kairi took out some bandages from her pocket as she carefully unwound the tourniquet from Leiko's injured arm. The blood had clotted but around the wound, her skin and turned black and purple.
"Leiko, you're wound is dark..." Kairi examined the wound but Leiko pulled her arm away quickly.
"It'll be fine." Leiko stated, rewrapping her wound quickly as the pain suddenly completely disappeared. She looked curiously at her arm and shrugged, "The pain's gone Kairi, don't worry."
Leiko pulled herself off the ground, only to almost fall back down but a pair of strong arms broke her fall. She glared up at Cloud and pushed hi arms away, standing on her own, "I don't need saving, blondie!" She exclaimed as she finally had the chance to sheathe her katana.
"Right." Cloud responded sarcastically.
Leiko glared again at him and then turned away sharply with her arms crossed, "Hmph, you're just so coc-" She started but she slumped forward, falling into Cloud's waiting arms.
"Cloud, what did you do?" Sora exclaimed as Cloud threw Leiko over his shoulder to carry her.
"I pressed the pressure point in her neck while her guard was down." Cloud stated as Amaya smiled at her sister's limp body.
Amaya stuck her tongue out at Leiko's unconscious body, "Serves her right for worrying us." She said happily as she turned down the corridor, "Let's go! She can rest here while we search for the keyhole!"
"Who's this kid?" Sora asked as he stared at the Al Bhed boy that blocked their exit.
The kid huffed and mumbled something in Al Bhed under his breath, "I'm here to give you guys something to help your journey to save Spira but if you don't want my help, I've got work in D'jose." The kid said as Sora's face lit up.
"Really? Cool! What do you got for us, kid?" Sora asked happily as Riku sweatdropped, 'Still as childish as ever...' Riku thought with a slight smile.
"Hmph, I'd appreciate you not call me a kid unless you attach 'genius' to it. My name is Shinra and I was part of the Gullwings." He stated as her took out a small sphere handed one to each of them, "Aren't there two more of you?" Shinra asked, holding two extra spheres.
"Yeah, but my sister was incapacitated and Cloud's watching over her." Amaya stated with emphasis on 'sister.'
Shinra rolled his eyes as he pocketed the other two spheres, "These are portable communication spheres. Port comm-spheres for short." He said, "You can talk to anyone from your party from anywhere in Spira by pushing the correct button combination. You'll be able to talk to them as well as see their image."
"Cool!" Sora exclaimed as he jumped in the air, almost dropping the sphere.
"Be careful with that!" Shinra exclaimed and then muttered, "My inventions are never treated with respect."
Shinra left, leaving the exit of the temple wide open. Sora noticed this and his trademark grin plastered itself on his face, "Let's get going guys! This'll be fun!" He exclaimed he ran outside with Kairi running after him, yelling for him to wait up.
Riku's smile had grown from earlier, 'It's almost like old times. Chasing after Sora and try to stop him before he gets into trouble...'Riku thought nostalgically as he stood watching Sora and Kairi run off, 'I wish I could be that carefree again...'Riku snapped out of it, literally, as Amaya snapped her fingers in front of Riku's face, "Are you in there? We got to get going!" She exclaimed as she took him by the hand and started to run.
Riku followed, slightly unwillingly but as they left Bevelle, he followed her willingly south as Sora and Kairi disappeared to the north. Amaya slowed as the made their way down the blue dirt path when she noticed her surroundings.
"Wow..." She gasped in awe as she looked at the almost faded forest. Even though it was disappearing, it still held unfathomable beauty, "I've never seen such a gorgeous place..."
As Amaya walked on, she kept her gaze on all the sparkling trees and beauty around her that she did not notice that the lone Heartless sneak up behind her. Amaya snapped out her daze only when she heard the slash of Riku's keyblade destroying a Heartless.
She turned around with surprise as Riku put his keyblade away, "Be more careful, Amaya." Riku warned as she smiled sheepishly.
"I'll be fine if you have my back!" She exclaimed as she took him by the hand once again and led him down the left path, which led them a beautifully landscaped lake. Once again, Amaya was amazed by the natural beauty of the forest and then a devious smile made it's way onto her lips as she glanced at the lake and then at Riku.
Riku caught her gaze for a moment and noticed her smile, 'I don't think that smile is going to lead to anything good...' He thought as Amaya suddenly kicked off her shoes and began to pull her shirt over her head.
"W-what are you doing!" Riku stuttered while a blush starting to spread across his face, as Amaya stripped off the top layer of her clothing.
"I'm going swimming, silly!" She said as she pulled off her pants and ran towards the water in just a bra and underwear. Amaya jumped into the water, "Cold!" She exclaimed as she got use to the temperature.
Riku face burned with blush as he turned away from her. He was not going to play her childish game. That was his first mistake. Not even five seconds after he turned his back to Amaya, he was soaked to the bone with water. He cringed and turned to her, his face burning from embarrassment and a bit of anger.
"Amaya! You're going to pay for that!" He said as he gave up, stripped down to his boxers, and ran into the lake, immersing himself under the water.
Amaya blinked as she saw Riku disappear under the water, "Where did he go...?" She asked herself as she swam over to the place where Riku dived under the water.
Soon, Amaya was yanked under the water, "Gotcha!" Riku exclaimed as Amaya came up gasping for air.
She turned face to him angrily, her hair plastered to her face, "Hmph." She said as she pushed her out of her face.
Amaya had missed a piece of hair, which Riku reflexively pushed behind her ear, his hand lingering on her cheek for a moment. Their gazes locked but Riku moved his hand from her face in embarrassment, about to pull away. Before he had a chance, Amaya's hand grabbed Riku's, "Stay..." She whispered.
Riku looked into her half-lidded eyes and brushed his hand across her cheek again. Amaya smiled, "Amaya..." Riku breathed as he brought her face closer to his kissed her.
Amaya's eyes widened in surprise but she quickly closed her eyes, kissing him back. The force that Amaya used in the kiss surprised Riku enough to send them backwards, into the water but still in the passionate lip-lock.
Amaya pulled away when air completely escaped her and smiled reassuringly at Riku, who smiled back. Amaya laid her head on Riku's bare chest and the noticed scars, "Where did you get these...?" She asked, barely above a whisper as she traced one of them.
Riku flinched slightly, causing Amaya to stop and lift her head. Riku pulled her head back to his chest and stroked her hair, "I got them from the Heartless while I was in Kingdom Hearts..." He stated quietly as Amaya lifted her head up in surprise.
"You really were in Kingdom Hearts!" Amaya exclaimed as Riku winced at her shout.
Riku was about to explain when the pair heard people heading this way. They swam to the shore and hide behind a rock since their clothes were to far away, "Kairi, it's not my fault! It's all that-that big yellow monster bird's fault!" Sora exclaimed as he and Kairi made their way into the vicinity of the lake.
"Sora, don't blame your clumsiness on the poor chocobo. You pulled the reins too hard, no wonder it threw you off!" Kairi retorted as she stifled a giggle.
Sora 'hmphed' and then noticed the lake, "You won't be so smug if I throw you into the lake." Sora stated deviously.
Kairi's eyes widened, "Sora, no!" Kairi protested as she backed away from Sora only to trip over something, "What the... Hey, aren't these Amaya's clothes...?"
Sora nodded as he picked up the pile of clothes next to Amaya's, "And aren't these Riku's?" Sora questioned as he held up Riku's clothing and then a strange sort of knowing grin plastered itself onto Sora's face, "Oh! I get it!"
Kairi blinked, "Sora what are you- No! He wouldn't... They wouldn't..." Kairi stammered as Sora's grin grew.
"Riku, you animal!" Sora joked just before a keyblade hit him in the head with almost full force, knocking him to the ground.
"Sora!" Kairi shouted as she kneeled by him as the keyblade that hit Sora flew back into Riku's waiting hand.
Riku walked over to his clothes and pulled on his pants then quickly pulled his shirt over his head and slipped on his shoes. Kairi looked at him as he gathered Amaya's clothing and threw them behind the rock they were hiding behind earlier.
Amaya quickly put on her clothing and ran over to her sister who was helping Sora sit up, "Uh, hey, Kairi!" Amaya greeted nervously, unsuccessfully hiding a blush.
Kairi looked at sister's appearance and stifled a giggle, "Amaya... Your shirt's on backwards." She stated as Amaya looked down to see the back of her shirt in dismay and then Kairi broke into a fit of laughter.
"It's not funny!" Amaya exclaimed as she ran back to the hiding place to fix her tank top.
Sora sat up clutching his head, "Ow!" He turned to glare at Riku, "What was that for?"
"For being an idiot, Amaya and I just went for a swim." Riku stated calmly as Sora stood him and got into Riku's to scrutinize him.
"I think you're lying and I think you're lips are slightly bruised from kissing Amaya!" Sora exclaimed as Riku's face faltered slightly, "I'm right! You flinched! You and Amaya wer-"
"Firaga." Amaya said, casting a spell were Sora stood, promptly cutting off his sentence.
"Ah! Hot!" Sora cried as he ran for the water and jumped in.
Kairi's eyes widened and she covered her mouth stifle a gasp. She turned to her sister who was now standing next to Riku, arms crossed in a huff, "Amaya! Don't do that to Sora!"
"Hmph. He deserved it." Amaya muttered, "Can we just pretend this never happened and look for the keyhole? It's what we're supposed to be do-"
"I found the keyhole!" Sora interrupted gleefully as everyone turned to him, "C'mon, Riku! Let's seal up this world!"
Riku nodded, taking out his keyblade silently. He walked past Amaya with a frown on his face, which caused her to frown as well, 'What's with him...?' She thought as Riku and Sora were about to seal the keyhole but Heartless started to make their appearance and surrounded the lake.
Glor: It's the 'Suteki Da Ne' scene! Hehehe. I loved that scene in FFX. It wasn't exactly the same because that would be un-original. (sweatdrop) This chapter's a little shorter than the last one but it doesn't matter much with the lack of reviews and most likely lack of readers as well. But I did get a review today so this is why I'm posting this! Thank you to YuniX-2!