Warnings: There still are mistakes in grammar, I think. Also Shounen-ai, which means malexmale love. NOT FOR KAIRI FANS! (or Naminé) Also, there might be some drug using, self-destructive activities and maybe some character deaths…
Pairings: SoraxRiku, one-sided SoraxAxel, WakkaxTidus, CloudxLeon, AerithxCid and maybe some more…
Disclaimer: Oh, dream on. I'd never own something like this.
Chapter #5, Happy
"What, you don't like pizza anymore?" Riku asked, frowning, as he and Sora sat in the nearest pizzeria, after two hours shopping new clothes for Sora. The said one shook his head and smiled, "No, it's not that. I'm just not hungry."
The silver-haired teen raised his eyebrow, piercing Sora with his gaze. "Look, Sora, you're so thin already, so if you don't eat, soon you'll only be a walking skeleton! I mean Sora, have you looked into the mirror?"
Sora nodded. Yes, he had looked into a mirror, more than once. But, the one who stood there couldn't be called the thinnest one, from his point of view. Everyone kept telling him, how he was so thin and all, but all he saw was a reflection of normal weight boy. "I have, and there's nothing special in my reflection."
"You're wrong." Riku snorted and poked Sora's nose, "…There's something special!"
"W-what? What do you mean?"
"Heh, you should try to figure out by yourself." Riku laughed, and ate his pepperoni pizza. Sora sighed and stared his own food, but just didn't feel like eating it. Even swallowing a tiny bit of it took much effort, so he had given up even trying to get the pizza down.
The brunette focused his eyes to look at Riku, who didn't look at him, but was obvious about his glancing. "What's wrong Sora?"
"N-nothing." Replied Sora, a little too quickly to sound real. Riku leaned his head to his palms, and looked straightly into the azure orbs. "Mistake number one, you answered too quickly. Now, tell me what's wrong, so I can help you. I don't want that same repeat, what happened few years ago."
"…It's not going to repeat." Sora pouted and folded his arms cutely. "I don't know if there's something wrong. I think there's not, but hey, maybe I've mistaken again!"
Riku's eyebrows rose once again. "Again?"
"Well, you know… ah… well… never mind. Anyways, how's going on with the band?" Sora tried to change the subject, but in vain- Riku wasn't going to give up. "Don't try it Sora. Tell me what's wrong, or you'll be forced to."
Sora bit his bottom lip, looking thoughtful. After a while he replied, "No, there's nothing wrong I think. Honestly, I can't think of anything, that'd be wrong." Sora's voice was sincere and he curved his lips up to a genuine smile that melted Riku's heart. The silver-haired man sighed, and couldn't do anything but believe Sora.
"Okay, I believe you. But if there's anything bugging you, I'm always here, you know that."
"Yeah. Thanks… Riku." Sora continued to smile.
"No problem at all." The other smirked and finished his food. He stood up, accompanied by the brunette. "I guess I only wasted my as I bought you that pizza…" Riku said, fake- disappointed.
"Erhm… Sorry?" Sora chuckled and started to head towards the door. Riku jogged after him, and grabbed his shoulders, giving him a friendly squeeze. Sora frowned, confusion written all over his face, as Riku just walked past him, out into the rain. Sora shook his head, and ran after his friend. The water splashed into his head, as he exited the building, but he didn't care anymore. Only he cared about this moment was Riku.
No one would ever come in between him and Riku... No one…
Tidus sat on his bed, and next to him was Selphie. The blonde looked down on the floor, and the brunette stared the young man in front of her. But soon she also turned her gaze at the wooden floor, sighing heavily.
"It's so boring." She stated, "Let's do something!"
Tidus looked up, smiling absently to her. "And what would you want to do?" he asked tiredly, only wanting to call it a day, and sleep until tomorrow. But because of the brunette girl, all he could do was dream about a peaceful slumber.
"I know, I know!" Selphie giggled and jumped on her feet. Tidus raised his eyebrow as he watched his lunatic friend, "Let's play hide and seek!"
"…Selphie, honestly… aren't you too old for those kind of games?" The blonde laughed and patted Selphie's shoulder. The said one pouted and folded her arms. She narrowed her eyes to Tidus, "I'm not old, unlike you!… Really, Tiddy, you should stop thinking about him!"
Tidus' eyes widened and he fixed his terrified eyes on her, "W-what!"
"You heard me!" She raised her chin and continued to glare her friend furiously, "He was just some passer by, and you are crazy in love with him! Really, Tidus, get your act together!"
Tidus' mouth dropped open, but he couldn't say anything. He had never seen Selphie looking like that, even if he had known her since the kindergarten. Selphie was never angry- she was the most optimistic and hyper girl around. That's why, Tidus started to get little scared. The brunette was acting out-of-character right now.
"S-Selphie?"
"Stop it, I don't wanna hear it." She spat, and turned on her heels, heading towards the door, "You're so stupid Tidus!" She screamed, before dashing out of the room, leaving very confused Tidus behind.
The young man scratched his head. How did Selphie realize he had his eyes on the redhead stranger? Was it that obvious? Tidus sighed, and lied down on his bed. Why Selphie was so furious about it anyways? He shook his head, as he couldn't find any reasons for his friend's odd behavior.
But soon he was too tired to think anything, and closed his eyes, hoping that tomorrow would be a better day. So his consciousness started to slip away from this world…
Riku stopped his car in front of Sora's home. The brunette turned his head and smiled, "Thanks Riku… Thanks from the clothes, and everything."
"Hey, don't mention it. I'm more than happy to give that all to you." Riku winked. Sora blushed, and nodded slowly, before starting to leave. He was just about to exit the car's door, but Riku's voice stopped him, "Sora…"
"Hmm?" Sora looked over his shoulder at the man, whose eyes were unfocused. The younger one blinked his eyes, confused from the expression plastered on Riku's face. "Riku? Is there something wrong?"
The silver-haired reached out his hand, and grabbed Sora's shoulder. He muttered 'I'm sorry', before yanking Sora down, bruising their lips together. The azure-eyed brunette yelped, and pulled away quickly. He touched his lips, and could still feel Riku's gently kiss on them. He looked beyond shocked, as he tried to focus his eyes on Riku, who on the other hand, looked very miserable.
"I'm sorry Sora." The silver-haired man said, pale red color appearing to his pale cheeks. "…That was stupid, I'm sorry. I know you can never feel the same way as I do, so this' all in vain… Please, don't hate me now Sora. I'd kill myself, if you'd do that! Just don't hate me now, please…"
Sora stared into the aqua-eyes, his fingertips still touching his slightly parted lips. Riku opened his mouth to say something, but closed it. An uncomfortable silence fell between those two. The car's door was still open, and half of Sora's body was outside, soaking from the rain.
"Sora… I…" Riku mumbled, trying to think of something wise to fix the hopeless situation. Sora's expression softened, and suddenly he broke into smiling. "It's okay Riku, really. I won't hate you! But… I… I'm not sure… I… do you… uh… l-love me?"
Riku groaned, but he smiled also, "What do you think, you idiot?"
"I… I think you do… but you have to say it, so I'll believe it!" Sora's face turned to crimson colored, as the blood rushed onto his cheeks. Riku chuckled, and touched gently Sora's warm face, gently stroking it with his palm. Sora was too cute when he blushed.
"I love you Sora. More than anything." He confessed. If the situation wouldn't be so serious, Riku would have laughed to the expression on Sora's face. "…Well, I think you should go now, before your mother comes to get you. We'll see at Saturday."
Sora nodded, the faint smile never leaving his lips. "Yeah, you're right… Riku… Ah… Thank you, once again!" He chirped and gave a shy kiss on Riku's cheek, before he exited the car and slammed the door close after him. He waved to Riku, and watched as the black car faded into the rain. Smiling to himself, he started to walk towards the door. He tried the door, and it was left open, so he just walked inside.
He kicked his shoes of, still feeling light-headed from Riku's actions. The silver-haired man had actually confessed his love for him.
Cloud peered from the kitchen, watching the dreamy Sora, trying to hold his laugh. "Looks like you had fun with Ri-ku… Dare to tell me what happened?"
Sora snapped out from his dreamworld, and narrowed his eyes to his nosey big brother. Then he poked his tongue out and said, "None of your business… where's mom?"
"Oh, she's packing at the upstairs. They're leaving tomorrow with Cid to somewhere, so we can party…" Cloud laughed and stood up. He walked to Sora and looked down. "Hey, you have new clothes! But, why's your pants wet, but your skirt is nearly dry?"
Sora looked down, and gasped. Coughing, he explained. "I… uumm… Car drove and…umm… splashed water on me…eh, nothing big. Oh, and Riku bought these to me."
Cloud eyed Sora, with disbelief, but didn't say anything. Instead he just shrugged and walked back to kitchen, and sat by a table. He took a game magazine, and started to read it. "Yeah, right… a car… But you should go to change your clothes before you catch a cold. You don't want to have a fever now, or you can't party at the Saturday. That'd be a very sad thing…"
"Yeah… Well, I dunno. I didn't want these parties at the first place anyways…" Sora said, but when he gained an angry glare from the blonde man, he continued, "B-but I guess it'd be nice to… umm… party… eh-heh…"
"Whatever… now go to change those wet clothes NOW, or I'll change them for you."
"Sir, yes sir!"
Leon walked back and forth in his little apartment, only one thing in his mind- Cloud. That spiky haired blonde had done something strange to him. The brunette could no more sleep, without seeing wet dreams about him. He punched a wall, causing a painting fall from it. Cursing he picked it up and shoved it pack to its place.
"Damn blondes…" He muttered, as he walked to his small fridge and taking out a beer-can. "Damn everyone."
He walked to his balcony, and inhaled the air filled with exhaust fumes. Coughing he grabbed a tobacco from a table and lighted it. Beer and smoke wasn't the best combination, but it was best way to get your thoughts away from annoying matters, after drugs. But he had stopped drug using few years ago, when one of his closest friends died because of them.
Leon leaned his elbows to the railing and looked down at the peoples. It was still raining, not so hard though. The brunette growled, as he breathed out a cloud of smoke. "Damn…" He ran his hand through his brown locks and growled, "I really should stop smoking…"
He tossed the cigarette aside, but drank his beer.
"…Fuck you Cloud…" He mumbled and rubbed his nose. He went inside, closing the door of balcony after him. Inside he leaned his back on the closed door, and closed his eyes. He tilted his head upwards and frowned. "Maybe tomorrow I'm able to say something more to him… Man, I'm a fucking idiot…"
For the second time that day, Sora found himself watching his food in front of him, not wanting to eat. Of course his mother's cooking was the best, but no one, even himself, didn't understand why he wasn't hungry. Simply, he just couldn't swallow anything- nothing went down, without an urge to come up.
Aerith looked her son, stopping her eating. She put her fork and knife down and fixed her concern filled eyes towards Sora. "Sora, hun. You know you have to eat something… That kind of lifestyle isn't healthy, you know that."
"I know mom. I'm just not hungry. Can I leave?" Sora pleaded. Now also Cloud stopped his eating and watched the younger one. "Really Sora, mom's absolutely right! You'll die if you don't eat anything! Just… just eat something!"
Sora sighed and looked down at his food. Then he shook his head. "I can't… I'm sorry… Your food is awesome mom, but I can't… it just…"
"Just try, please!" Aerith said, her voice sounded so broken, that Sora couldn't do anything but obey. Unwillingly, he grabbed his fork, and started to poke a potato. Aerith and Cloud stared him, following the fork with their eyes. Sora, however, found this very disturbing and rolled his eyes. "Umm, can't I eat without you eyeing my each move? Please?"
"Oh, of course! Sorry!" Aerith smiled and gestured Sora to continue. Slowly, also Cloud returned to his food.
Sora quickly shoved the potato in his mouth, and chewed it. He tried to swallow it, and yes it went down. A sigh of relief escaped from the brunette's lips, causing the other two peoples look at him. Sora smiled. "Oh, this' good mom!"
Aerith returned the smile and nodded. Sora covered his mouth and turned to pale. Cloud raised his eyebrows questioningly, and Aerith's lips no longer were curved upwards. Small puking-sounds escaped from Sora's lips, as he jumped up from the table, and started to run towards the bathroom.
"Sora, what's wrong!" Cloud gasped, as he ran right after his little brother. The brunette just shook his head as a reply, since he couldn't open his mouth, to keep his contents inside. But as he tried to open the door to the bathroom, he couldn't hold back any longer- the potato he just ate and the little pieces of pizza he had forced himself to eat before along with some water poured from his mouth to a new carpet.
"Oh my god…" Cloud gasped, and his blue eyes widened. Sora looked at him with teary eyes. A pain hit Sora's stomach, because he had just thrown up after eating nearly anything. He curled to a ball on the floor, crying in pain, while Cloud watched helplessly aside.
"Sora, what happene- AAIEE!" Aerith screamed and went to embrace his younger son. She stroked Sora's hair. "It's alright, it's alright… Cloud, could you clean up, while I take Sora upstairs to his room?"
"Yes mom." The blonde disappeared behind a corner. Aerith sighed, and lifted Sora from the floor, and started to carry him upstairs. Sora wondered if her mother was very strong, or he was just so light… maybe it was both…
"I-I'm s-so-sorry mom…" Sora sobbed and held his aching stomach. His mother just smiled tiredly, and again told him 'it's okay'. But even if she said that, Sora knew it wasn't okay. He made her worried… once again.
Aerith placed her son gently to his bed, and pulled bed sheets up to cover now trembling young man. She stroked his cheek, wiping away the tears of pain. "It's alright Sora… everything's gonna be fine…"
"…I'm sorry mom…" Sora closed his eyes. "I'm bothering you too much again…"
"No you're not." Aerith said firmly and looked down at Sora. She frowned, and looked straight into the azure orbs, just to make sure Sora understood. Then suddenly her expression softened, and she stroked Sora's cheek again. "…We all have our needs, problems and faults. We can't help them, or learn to love them, but we can try to live with them. And those things are the things that makes us special."
Now it was Sora's turn to frown. He opened his eyes, and gave Aerith very confused glare. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You'll understand someday." She smiled.
Selphie sat on a bench in a park. Cold wind made her shiver, but she didn't care. All her happiness had vanished, and now she was showing her true feeling, she had so long denied. Tidus was so dense. Why didn't he understand how Selphie loved him so deeply?
She sighed and looked down at her shoes. She really wanted Tidus to be happy, but (even if it sounded selfish) she wanted to be happy too. Growling, very un-Selphie-likely, she got up on her feet. Then she just stood there, thinking what next. She didn't want to go home, her parents and siblings would just start asking stupid questions. But she didn't want to stay there, because the air was starting to get pretty cold. And of course, going to Tidus wasn't an option.
She looked up. The rain had stopped a while ago, now sun shone weakly in the horizon, but it didn't warm. Selphie tried to get back his usual happy-go smile and attitude, but only managed to form a painful grin.
Slowly she started to walk to unknown direction, her eyes wandering around the park. Suddenly she spotted a familiar reddish hair, behind a tree. Her blood started to boil and she balled her fists. With a few leap she made her way to the man leaning his back on the old elm.
"WHO THE HECK ARE YOU!" Selphie screamed and pointed the man, who gave an amused glare to her. "Heh, same I'd like to ask from ya."
"I ASKED FIRST!"
"Okay, okay!" The redhead laughed and patted Selphie's head, making her even angrier. "The name's Wakka. Now, who are you?"
Selphie snorted and folded her arms. She narrowed her eyes and hissed, "I'm Selphie."
"Okay, now Selphie, you got something to say, ya?" Wakka rolled his eyes, and copied Selphie's move by folding his arms. The brunette girl tried to regain her composure, but in vain. She just hated this guy already. "You must remember my friend Tidus, right? RIGHT?"
"Oh, the little guy who ran into me? Yeah, I remember him, what 'bout it?"
"He's NOT a little guy!" Selphie slapped Wakka's head, causing the redhead to chuckle. "Anyways… I'd like to make one thing clear!"
Wakka raised his eyebrow, and rubbed his absently. "Yeah?"
"Don't go breaking his heart, you heard me! If you do that I SWEAR you're gonna DIE IF YOU DO THAT! I'LL KILL YOU WITH MY BARE HANDS, UNDERSTAND!" Selphie screamed her lungs out. A confused expression was written all over Wakka's face, as he stared the furious girl.
"Huuuh?" Was all he could say. Selphie smiled satisfied and spun around. "It was nice to meet you. Wakka. I guess we'll see around then."
She ran away, trying to hold her laughter inside. Wakka's mouth was left open as he stared the retreating girl's back. He blinked his eyes few times, and rubbed them, making sure he wasn't dreaming.
"What the hell was that all 'bout!" He yelped and leaned his back on the tree again. Rubbing his temples, he continued to talk to himself, "Really, who was that girl anyways? Man, she was scary…"
"Not bad Riku." Sephiroth smiled to the other silver-haired man. He handed a notebook back to its rightful owner. "It's just like Zexion said. You are pretty good."
Riku chuckled and leaned his elbows to a table, in Sephiroth's office. "Only pretty good? Why not just good or amazing?"
"Because…" Sephiroth sighed, "You still lack the skill to captivate your listeners. These lyrics are good, but not good enough to make peoples to fall in love with them. I'd advice you to try find a proper inspiration, like an important people or event in your life. To attract people, you must create a song that peoples can compare to their lives."
Riku raised his eyebrow and stared his cousin. "So you mean, I should write a song about my life, and make it sound like the other's lives also?"
"Yes and no. You just have to write a song, what makes peoples think like you'd have written it to them." Sephiroth explained, playing with his long silver locks. "It may sound complicated, but it really is easy."
The other silver haired man rolled his eyes, "Easy my ass." He mumbled and glanced his notebook.
"Look, Riku. If you think this was going to be easy, I must disappoint you! The road to the stars will be nothing, but sweat, pain and tears! Even if you were Zexion's best student, doesn't mean you're already some kind of star!" Sephiroth raised his voice, and Riku snorted as reply. The door opened and a lazy looking man, with also silver hair walked in.
"Did you call me Sephiroth?" The silver-haired man asked and raised his eyebrow.
Sephiroth gave Riku a glare before turning his attention to the man standing at his doorstep. "No Zexion. I was just telling Riku the facts."
"Yeah, you just told me I'm nothing more than a piece of crap." Riku snorted again, and grinned to Zexion. "Hi Zexy, long time no see!"
Zexion winced at his pet name, but smiled to Riku. "Yeah, nice to see you too Riku. But what's this shit about you're just a piece of crap?" He narrowed his eyes to Sephiroth, who made a face. "I didn't say that, I said-"
"No, please don't repeat that, I don't wanna hear that same speech again!" Riku snickered and covered his ears. Zexion started to giggle also, but Sephiroth gave them both a very angry glare. "Excuse me, but if you don't remember, this' my company, so I may as well kick you both out."
Riku bit his tongue to stop his laughing. "Oh, yeah sorry Sephy."
"Whatever, now leave, both of you, before I fire you." Sephiroth sighed in defeat and sank in his chair. Giggling, Zexion quickly disappeared out of the door, soon followed by Riku. As the door was closed, they both broke into laughing.
"Sephiroth's as grumpy as ever…" Zexion managed to gasp between heavy laughs. Riku just nodded, since he couldn't say anything. They continued to laugh, gaining very odd glares from the other workers in Sephiroth's record-company.
After ten minutes, good laughing, they sat on a sofa in a large lobby. They both were still panting slightly. Riku was the first one who managed to say something clever, "So, what's up Zexion? We haven't seen for a while, since I stopped taking singing lessons from you."
"Yeah, the life has been pretty boring after you left. All my other students are nothing compared to you." Zexion chuckled lightly and leaned his back on the couch. "They sing worse than Sephiroth."
"Haha, that's really bad then!" Riku grinned, "No wonder he quit even trying singing, and started this company instead."
The other silver-haired man nodded and eyed Riku suspiciously. "Hmm? Something different with you… You know… I don't know how to explain this, but you just act… differently. Did something happen?"
"Huh?" Riku blinked his eyes, but soon his expression changed to mysterious. "Maybe…"
"What? Tell me!" Zexion smirked.
"Hmm… I dunno… Maybe…"
"Oh, come on! Tell me!"
"Okay, I'll tell you. If you swear you won't tell anyone!" Riku folded his arms, and glanced Zexion, who rapidly shook his head. "I won't tell to anyone, you know that Riku."
"Yeah, I do. I just wanted to make sure." The younger man shrugged. "…Okay, you've heard about Sora, right? The brunette I always talk about."
Zexion rubbed his temples, looking thoughtful. Second later an evil smirk grew to his lips. "Oh him… Of course I've hear of him. Hohohoo, do you admit now, that you're truly madly deeply in love with him?"
"Eh?"
"Oh, I remember when you came to my lessons, you always talked about Sora. It was always Sora, Sora, Sora and Sora. When I asked you, did you like him, you always denied it. But I see now, you admit it that you love him." Zexion sighed happily and patted Riku's back. "I'm so proud of you…"
"H-hey cut it off!" Riku laughed nervously, and playfully slapped Zexion's hand away. "Okay, I love him, okay? But will you listen what I was about to say?"
"Of course, go on."
"Well, today after I took him to shopping and pizzeria, I… Well, when I drove him home… I… Kissed him…" Riku's face turned to pale red. Zexion's grin grew wider. "Really? Haha, that's awesome! I mean really! Wow, I'm so happy for you, Riku. But remember… Love is not always easy."
"I know." Riku looked down at the marble floor. "…But Sora's different. He won't break my heart! I know he won't."
Zexion sighed, and patted Riku's shoulder gently. "I know you know. You have experienced so much faithlessness… I really hope Sora won't let you down like many others did."
"He won't… He's not like them."
CC: Okay, even if Riku already kissed Sora, it doesn't mean their love will be easy from now on. Hohoho, I just wanted to warn you.
Sora: You're so evil CC.
CC: You may be right, but who'd want to read a story, where everything goes like it should be? It's not very interesting if you ask me.
Sora: I guess so… But that doesn't change the fact you're evil!
Riku: I agree with that.
CC: Come oon, guys…. Umm, anyways! Thanks to you reviewers once again! I love you all, but I'm scared that someday you'll kill me, so I guess I don't have other choice than write this fast… Eep… Continue to review, and I'll continue to write, okay? Thanks :)