Forbidden
A Kingdom Hearts Fanfic
Chapter Sixteen
Sora opened the door to the apartment when he heard a knock. "Hey."
"You ready?" Cloud asked. Sora nodded briefly in reply, but before he walked out he turned back to Riku. He was still lying on the same couch they had been on all day, covering his face as if he were in shame. Cloud gave him a curious glance, but when there was no reply he didn't push further. He stepped out of the way and his younger brother walked out.
"Sorry for calling you," Sora started slowly as they began to walk down the stairs. Their shoes squeaked under the metal, rickety floor underneath them. "I just . . . didn't feel like going home alone or anything."
He came over at seven in the morning on a Sunday, but somehow it didn't turn out to just be a small visit. It started off like other visits; slow, easy. But somehow they gravitated towards something so real he didn't even want to think about it. Sora stuffed both of his hands into his pockets, his fingers lightly touching the photograph he had taken without Riku knowing. 'Kairi . . .'
Kairi. The girl of Riku's dreams. His sister . . . Sora started to feel his heart rate hasten at the thoughts of what had happened, and a strong tingle played around his wrists but he bit down hard to try and resist. Being aware of other people's problems was a start to try and stop what he did when he was nervous.
"It's okay," Cloud replied, and when Sora saw the smile he knew he was genuine about it. "It's my day off anyway. You were lucky too. Aerith and I were just coming home from looking at her sonograms."
"Really!" Sora grinned widely, fully taking in the change of conversation. He was willing to think about anything else as long as long as it took things away from just a few moments ago. "How'd it go? Is the baby okay?"
Cloud's smile faded a little as his mind went into deep thought, as if he wasn't sure how to word things. The both of them reached the bottom stair, and right there waiting by the street curb was a small, brown car. Some of the paint had been chipped off to reveal a dull gray underneath, and dents pushed in all around the bumper and the front. One of the headlights was also missing from a deep gash on the surface. "The baby . . . isn't doing okay."
"What?" No; he didn't want to hear anymore bad news right now. Especially if it had to do with someone so close. Aerith was waiting in the front seat of the car and turned to look at the both of them, a soft, pleasant smile on her face. This calmed him down a little bit; seeing her alright made him feel a little better as he got into the back and Cloud in the driver's side.
Cloud continued to talk as he started up the car and drove more into the street, flowing in with the scarce company of other vehicles. "We've still got about two and a half more months until the baby is actually due, but right now the doctor wants Aerith to go through an emergency C-Section."
"Emergency . . .?" Sora repeated, leaning forward in his seat so that he was between his older siblings. He wasn't bothering to wear a seatbelt. He turned to his sister who was staring ahead, her expression void of any worry. "Hey, have you been having contractions early or something like that?"
"No . . . not really," she replied. "But right now something's happening with our baby's heart, and the doctor thinks that if they stay inside me any longer it could get worse, so . . . a C-Section might be the best option."
"So, you might have the baby within a month or something?"
Aerith smiled as she lightly patted her rounded stomach. Over the weeks as she was beginning to go into her seventh month her stomach swelled; it wasn't huge, but it was enough for people around her other than her husband to notice. She already seemed to grow into habit of rubbing it or holding it, as if all of her thoughts were concentrated towards her future child. Sora frowned as he heard the story; he imagined childbirth and making decisions like this were hard.
"We're really thinking of going through with it, me and Cloud," she started, and Sora listened. "Being born a couple months premature isn't a terrible thing, and I'm excited about seeing my baby. The only problem is that along with being born early, they're going to be sick so we're not sure if . . ."
She didn't have to finish the sentence for Sora to understand what she was trying to say, and he didn't want her to. This small life was the happiest thing their family had at the moment, and to lose it would be the worst thing that could happen. He gripped the seat of the car in anxiety, then let go and pulled Aerith into a tight hug around her neck.
"Don't worry," he said softly, although it was more as if he were speaking to himself than to her. She looked well. "Everything's gonna be okay."
There wasn't a single word for the rest of the drive home. Weak music played on the radio, most of it being heavily blurred out by either bad reception or the loud honking of horns around them. Slowly they continued along nearby their street to their home the cars piled along the road, but they had luckily been able to park along the side of the street without anyone blocking them.
When they walked inside their mother was waiting. She was sitting at the table with a small lunch meal already finished and prepared for them, but she wore anything but a welcoming smile. There was a thin, serious line along her lips, and Sora only glanced into her stern eyes for a moment before turning away. He hurriedly went passed her and sat down at the table as she approached her daughter and son-in-law.
"Well?" she asked, a small trace of worry in her strict tone. Quickly the both of them explained what was happening, mostly Aerith speaking while Cloud watched Sora eat up the food so he could hurry upstairs.
When she was finished she looked absolutely furious. "A C-Section . . . You can't possibly be thinking of going through something like that!"
"But Mom!" Cloud started, finally getting his part in. Aerith had opened her mouth to also speak in protest but she let her husband talk instead. "That's the best option for the baby! Don't you understand? Our baby is dying!"
Her defiance didn't even falter. "God did not intend for such a thing to occur. This is a test of our will, and we won't through something so unnatural. And do you even realize how much more often mothers die from C-Sections?"
"But . . . but Mom!" Aerith said, clinging to the cloth around her stomach. She looked hurt from hearing such cold, harsh words. Of course the both of them were prepared to hear anything that came from her mouth, but even then it was painful. "We really want what is best for our baby. Please . . . accept this!"
"I won't!"
Sora pushed the last bit of food onto the edge of the plate and licked it, being sure to watch in case his mother turned around and caught him. When he swallowed he hastily put his fork down and went upstairs. He tried his best to shut out the sounds of the sudden yelling and arguments that were occurring, but even shutting the door to his bedroom wasn't doing any good for that.
As he sat down on the edge of his bed, staring up at the ceiling as he kicked off his shoes Sora covered his ears. 'What's the matter with her? Isn't having a baby supposed to be a good thing? She's pissing everything off!'
"God, I hate thatbitch!" he shouted at the top of his lungs, unplugging his ears for just a moment to pick up one of his shoes and throw it across the room. It slammed against the wall, creating a loud and heavy vibration. The noise downstairs stopped for only a few seconds then continued on as if nothing happened. 'Why . . .?'
Sora laid down against the bed, not bothering to even put the covers on top of him. A little crinkling noise from his pocket made him remember the small picture that was hiding there, ultimately shifting his thoughts to earlier that day.
Riku raped his sister . . . at least, that's what everyone thought. He decided to believe his friend. The honesty in his face as he told the entire story was far too real for it not to be true. 'And for the first time . . . I saw Riku cry.'
That strong, charming, hateful, bittersweet emotionless guy he had first met actually cried in front of him. As soon as everything boiled down to the heat of the moment, the one place where everyone made a mistake –where he made a mistake- hot tears fell and they wouldn't stop. It was hard to watch, and uncomfortable.
'But if everyone is wrong,' he thought, reaching into his back pocket in taking out the picture. One arm was fitting behind his head, the other with his fingers spinning the photograph in observation. He looked from the sweet, smiling young girl then to the white on the back, the numbers for the phone etched out in black. 'Why is he right here? Why isn't he trying to fight what happened to him, to change things? Wouldn't Kairi . . . figure out things after a while?'
He didn't want Riku to be mad at him; he really didn't. For the first time in years, he had someone he found close to him other than a family member. First it was Leon, whom he idolized and treasured as an older brother. Then it was Cloud, who always took care of him and helped him when he needed him most.
But Riku . . . he didn't take care of him, or treat him like a child. He was just a friend. A real friend.
"That's why . . ." Sora sat up and focused on the phone number, his heart beginning to race and his mind churning with ideas. He looked over to a small phone that was hooked up in his room, then back down at the photograph. He smiled softly. ". . . I want to help you, Riku.
X x x
Finally, updated this story! I decided to bring the focus to another dramatic aspect that hasn't had much play in the story; Cloud and Aerith's baby. And we get to see more of their evil, strict mother. I really love Cloud and Aerith, but it's a shame I can't add them in the story too much!
And towards the end we have our predictable little turn. Sora's getting involved for his buddy. Yeay:3 And what's this? Riku didn't . . .? Ack, I feel my story is predictable. Oh well! I'm enjoying writing it nonetheless.
And also, please excuse any typos. I had to hurry up and do this. XD
Lili-sama- Yes, a flash back! We might have another in the future, but I'm not sure. I'm still for the most part just making everything up; I only have a vague idea of it all!
Dragon Scales 13- Apparently, it all is a misunderstanding! At least that's what Riku has told Sora . . . but why should I boost the rating? It's a heavy topic- a lot of topics in this story are, but it's certainly not this tabboo "M+" thing. It's just reality. XD
kage-chan- Thank you! T.T –Also cries for Kairi- Things will be better in the future part of this story, I hope. And I hope I can explain things well too!
Sky-Pirate-Tat- Yes, it's coming closer to the ending- Not for another five chapters or so, I guess. I really don't know! I haven't even started on the next chapter yet. XD
L33t apprentice- Aww, that's too bad . . . they're really fun:D And not dangerous like this story seems to imply . . .
RikusGirl2007- Thanks! I'm happy you like it.
Kia Saphia- Yeah; I always wanted to do something like this with them, being together as a real brother and sister. It was a lot of fun. :3
carbuncle x3- Thanks a lot! I hope you like this update too.
MagicianCyborg- Well, this is how the story is going on anyways. :D And Pachinko is based off of Paranoia Agent, so that's why it seems like that. Both are super-super crazyyyyyyy . . . . XD