I noticed that the mood of this story really changed. It was all happy dramatic at first...and now it's all drama and romance...Humm...The end'll have to be really silly. Please enjoy!
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Disclaimer: I do not own KH or any of the characters. I only own the words used to make this piece of data.
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KEY:
Italic- thought
Bold- flashback and other
Bold/Italic- dreams
( )- other
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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: TORN BETWEEN ROSES
Now that Sora had returned to normal, the world and its women returned to normal. All the missing girls returned home and all the other people caught up in the dilemma returned to normal as well. Everyone in the outside world thought the fight with the school was over, but the group that had been fighting so hard to stop it...knew that wasn't the case. Mickey and Ansem were still wandering around somewhere, and soon they would appear to take revenge, and then hopefully fall. But at the moment...the group could rest.
"Hey Sora?" Riku called as he stepped out of the cabin, which appeared to be falling apart. Sora was sitting in a tree outside, staring up at the blue sky. Another day had come, but this day brought with it both happiness and tears.
"Yes?" Sora answered, not wanting to look away from the beautiful sky. "Is there something you need?"
"You seem spaced out," Riku teased as he leaned against the tree and also looked up at the sky. "It's nice out today...I haven't taken much time to look at the sky lately."
"It's nice isn't it?"
"Yeah..."
The two boys were silent for awhile, not knowing what to say and not wanting to take chances in hurting one another. "Hey Sora?" Riku finally spoke up. "Why don't we forget about what happened for a little bit. Wanna help me fix up Clouds cabin?"
Sora looked towards the cabin that was barely standing and grinned. "I'd love too." Sora jumped down and followed Riku inside the cabin. Minutes later the two emerged with a tool box and some boards and both climbed up onto the roof and began working while they enjoyed a pleasant conversation.
Selphie and Kairi were walking towards the cabin when they caught sight of the two boys talking cheerfully and laughing. "I'm glad everything is okay," Selphie laughed happily.
"Yeah," Kairi replied. "Where's Tidus?"
"He's with Wakka at some old store."
"I see," Kairi replied as she gazed up at Sora.
"Someone's watching you," Riku teased and gently pushed Sora. "You should go to her."
Sora looked up in surprise. "But what about you? I haven't talked to you in a long time...and-"
"You broke her heart," Riku interrupted. "I think she's more important than me. Go make sure she knows how much you love her."
Sora smiled and set down his hammer. "Thanks Riku." The brunette jumped down off the roof and began walking towards Kairi.
"Sora...You've really become stronger," Riku told himself smiling softly before returning to his work on the cabin roof.
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Sora walked with Kairi deeper into the forest where the two of them could be alone and finally stopped when they came to a large rock.
"Sora?" Kairi asked innocently. "Why'd you bring me out here?"
"To make everything all better," Sora replied softly.
"What do you mean?"
Sora leaned against a tree and watched Kairi sit herself on the rock. "I've been a jerk. You did so much for me and I only broke your heart and used you. Then...I give you a simple "I love you," and expect you to forgive me..."
"But Sora..." Kairi giggled with a smile. "I do forgive you."
"Why?"
"Because I love you...I knew you were using me, but I didn't want to leave. I did all that for you because I wanted too, not because I wanted a whole lot more in return."
"...But..."
"And your simple "I love you," was not simple at all. You have no idea how long I've been waiting for you to say that. It made me so happy."
"But it still hurt," he told her sternly.
"Of course..."
Sora stood up straight and walked towards Kairi until he was standing a few inches from her face. "I'll make it all up to you. I tell you those words you long to hear as many times as you want," he whispered into her ear as he pulled her into an embrace. "I'll continue to say those words for the rest of our lives."
"Sora?" Kairi asked in surprise as his arms wrapped around her protectively.
"Will you stay with me forever?"
Kairi smiled and allowed herself to enjoy Sora's warmth. "Forever and ever," she replied, wrapping her own arms around his body.
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Yuffie, Aerith, Sephiroth, Leon, and Cloud were all sitting inside the cabin listening to Riku bang on the roof in an attempt to fix it. The tension in the room was building and Sephiroth knew why. Both Cloud and Leon cared deeply for Aerith, and the two had planned to confess their love together and see which one of them she chose. It was obvious that they were a little more than nervous. Would she like either of them at all?
"I think Yuffie and me are going to help Riku out on the roof!" Sephiroth yelled out when the tension became to strong for him. Without time to protest, Yuffie was in Sephiroth's arms and being carried out of the cabin. The two climbed on the roof and greeted Riku. "How are you?"
"What do you want?" Riku asked as he hammered a board down.
"To help you fix this," Yuffie explained.
"Why aren't you guys inside with your buddies?"
"You're our buddy too!" Sephiroth giggled. "Besides...those two are going to tell Aerith how they feel."
"Makes sense," Riku chucked, handing the two visitors tools. "I wouldn't want to be in there either."
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Back in the cabin, both Cloud and Leon were standing up and looking down at the ground in embarrassment. "Aerith," Cloud mumbled. "We have something to tell you?"
Aerith, who was sitting at the table, looked interested. Was this why the other two had left so suddenly? "I'm listening," she replied smiling.
"How do I say this?" Leon asked Cloud, looking more nervous now than before.
"We both love you," the two shot out at the same time. Aerith's eyes widened in surprise.
"Both of you?"
"Yes," Leon answered.
"We don't expect you to give us a reply right away," Cloud explained. "We don't know how you feel...And we know you can only like one of us." The blond man headed for the door quickly, followed by Leon.
"You can tell us later," Leon said before they left, leaving Aerith in the cabin to think about everything.
Aerith sighed and put her head down on the table. "What do I do?" she asked herself. "I love them both...How am I supposed to choose?"
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The three on the roof had finally finished and were currently climbing down, when they saw the two guys exit the cabin. "Hi!" Sephiroth giggled and jumped down in front of them. "How'd it go? Wanna hang out?"
Yuffie climbed down and stared at Leon longingly, but only for a few seconds. However, Riku caught sight of it. "Yuffie?" the silver haired boy asked softly. Yuffie looked away and nodded slowly, before walking off towards the town.
"What's wrong with her?" Cloud asked in confusion. "Riku?"
"She's not feeling well," Sephiroth told them. "I think she said she was going to go get a bottle of juice. Why don't we leave her alone?"
"I don't know..." Leon said hesitantly. "Shouldn't someone go with her?"
"I will," Riku volunteered and then ran after her. Yuffie stopped walking when she noticed Riku behind her. "Are you okay?"
"I will be," she replied and began walking again.
"Where are you going?"
"I don't know..."
"Why don't we go and get something to eat?" Riku suggested. "I'll pay."
"Sounds like a plan to me."
The two went to a pizza house and ordered a large cheese pizza. "Where do you want to sit?" Riku asked once he'd gotten the pizza.
"By the window," Yuffie told him and then led him to the seat. "Thanks for taking me out."
"Well...It's obvious you didn't want to be around there," Riku laughed as he set the pizza on the table and pulled out the chair for her.
"Dude, you're too polite!"
"Sorry about that," Riku laughed. "I get so used to having to do that for my mothers guests." Riku sat himself down and the two began eating in silence, looking out the window from time to time to watch the cars go by.
"I didn't expect to see you guys here," came a familiar voice. "Are you dating?" The two turned around and found Tidus, Selphie, and Wakka.
"Hey guys!" Riku greeted. "How's everything going?"
"So...Are you two really together?" Selphie asked enthusiastically.
"No," Yuffie replied laughing. "He's just treating me to lunch."
"Oh darn...And here I thought Riku had finally snagged himself a girl that he actually liked," Tidus teased.
"Not yet," Riku replied leaning back in the chair. "Want some pizza?"
"Y-YES!" Wakka screamed. He'd been looking at the pizza and was drooling slightly. "Thank you so much Riku!" He grabbed two pieces and rushed out the door. Tidus laughed and grabbed one for himself and Selphie.
"Thanks Riku!" he laughed as he and Selphie followed the screaming Wakka out the door. "See you later."
"Those guys are freaks!" Riku laughed as he stared at the empty pizza box. "So...Yuffie, you wanna talk about it?"
"I always liked Leon," Yuffie began. "Ever since I met him. But he and Cloud always liked Aerith. I was okay with it though...What am I saying? I am okay with it. It just hurts...You know?"
"I can imagine. Tell me something..."
"Hummm?"
"What was your reason for joining Sora?"
"I felt like I had a duty to protect Aerith. It's like, if I protect her, I protect Leon. If anything happened to her, no doubt he'd be torn apart."
"I see..."
"Hey Riku? This is weird. But can you tell me what my flower is?"
Riku began laughing. It sounded so corny. "Sure. I see a big beautiful violet."
"What about Cloud and Leon?"
Riku looked out the window again and smiled. "They're roses."
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Cloud had left Leon and Sephiroth when he went off to get some food for dinner. "Leon? Do you want to play a game?" Sephiroth asked, when Cloud had gone. Leon looked up and smiled.
"What kind of game?" Leon was about to stand up, when he noticed that Cloud had left his wallet. "Stupid guy...He'll be needing this."
"Where are you going?" Sephiroth asked, sounding concerned when he noticed Leon heading in the same direction as the blond had gone.
"To give him his money."
Leon wasn't to far away from the cabin when he began to hear voices. He hid behind a tree and watched as Aerith and Cloud appeared, and listened closely to their conversation. It wasn't like he could leave at the moment.
"Is something wrong?" Cloud asked the depressed Aerith.
"Kind of," she answered blushing. "I love both of you." Cloud stopped suddenly and turned towards her. "But...I love you more."
"Aerith..." Cloud said softly as a smiled appeared on his lips. "I'm glad."
"Me too," Leon mumbled from behind the tree. He stepped out and startled both Aerith and Cloud. "Here, you forgot your wallet." He laughed calmly as he handed the blond the wallet. "Congrats Cloud." That was all Leon said, after he returned the wallet he headed straight for the cabin, and found a quiet Sephiroth.
"He's with her?" Sephiroth asked when he saw Leon's expression. "I'm sorry."
"It's no problem." Leon laughed, though it was a forced laugh. "He's my friend...and I'm happy for him."
"Hey Leon...You never told me how you met Aerith," Sephiroth spoke up.
"Really? Yuffie and me met her back before all this happened. We all met in a restaurant, and became good friends. However, I never met you or Cloud."
"I see...Are you feeling better?"
"Yeah."
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Riku paid for the pizza and soon the two were walking around town. "What do you want to do now?" he asked the now cheerful girl.
"Can we go back to the cabin?" Yuffie asked.
"Sure!" The two of them raced back to the cabin, and in the end, Yuffie won.
"You let me win!" she groaned when they stopped at their finish line. However, she was distracted when she saw Leon and Sephiroth leaning against the house. "Leon! What happened?"
"Aerith likes Cloud, that's all," he replied with a fake smile. "I guess I'll never find a girl that loves me."
"Stupid," Yuffie mumbled as she stomped over to Leon and pulled him up and into her arms. "You already have one."
Riku and Sephiroth watched in surprise as Yuffie hugged Leon tight. Riku hadn't expected her to be so bold after feeling so down, but he supposed that was the kind of girl she was.
"Thanks Yuffie," Leon whispered as soon as he got over the initial shock, and returned the hug.
"I missed you so much," Yuffie mumbled into his shirt. "I was afraid we'd never be together again."
"Yuffie," Leon whispered softly, causing the younger girl to look up at him. Without warning he knelt down and kissed her, stealing away her breath and heart.
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Hummm...I wonder why I had Leon kiss her...No really, I have no idea...Lol, oh well! Please review!