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… Crossovers from Final Fantasy VII and VIII…
Pairings: SoraxRiku, one-sided SoraxAxel and RikuxKairi, WakkaxTidus, CloudxLeon, AerithxCid and maybe some more…
Disclaimer: Still nothing.
Reviews:
Thank you once again! I love you all! I updated so fast, because I just had to let you know what happens in this chapter! Whee, I hope you all like it!
Chapter #14, Showtime
"It's been a while…" He said, leaning his head to his palms, keeping his eyes on the man, "…Riku…"
"Yeah…" Riku answered, never looking at the man he so much loathed. His hands were shaking… Seeing Lance made him extremely nervous… It was like he'd be watching his worst fear into the eyes… And that was kind of true. He was afraid- he was afraid of this man, who had peeled the skin of his former lover. Not only that, but after doing so, laughing like a maniac and… Riku shook his head, since he didn't even want to think further.
"So how are you doing hunny?"
Riku winced visibly. Those poisonous words spilling out from that evil man's mouth… He screamed in horror mentally, as Lance leaned towards the glass, to take a better look at him.
"I'm not your 'hunny'…" Riku spat, narrowing his eyes in dangerous manner. Lance whistled, clearly somewhat amused, and settled back to his chair.
"So, you want to tell me why I get this kind of… gorgeous company today?"
"…" Riku frowned, eyeing the blonde man, before speaking, "I came here to talk properly with you, but if that's impossible task to you… I may as well leave."
"No, I'll talk." Lance said, putting his hands into the air.
Riku inhaled a deep breath. Even if he was scared to death right now, his whole body trembling slightly, and his mind screaming senseless orders to him, he just had to live with his fear. He had done it this far, so he wouldn't give up now… And he knew, if he wouldn't do this, he wouldn't never be able to live on… To look Sora and tell him openly how much he loved him.
"Why did you kill him?" He managed to gasp. That question… He had wanted so much to find an answer to that. Okay, he kind of knew that the answer was because of jealously, but he just wanted to hear it from the devil.
"Why? Don't ask me why. I know you know the answer." Lance rolled his eyes, "…He was in my way. I wanted money, and he didn't give it- and I wanted you, but he didn't give you either. And you know…"
Lance once again leaned forward, his lips nearly touching the glass, "…I always get what I want."
Riku frowned, feeling his fear only growing, as those murky eyes pierced right through him… It was just like that night… That night when he had to watch as his boyfriend was killed… Murdered by a merciless criminal…
"But now I want to ask you something…" Lance's grin grew wider, "…Did his blood taste good?"
A horrified expression spread to Riku's face, as Lance calmly sat down.
"Ohh… I can remember that look on your face when I made you drink his blood… That's something I can't ever forget. It caused me more pleasure than anything…"
Riku's eyes widened even more, and he had strong urge to puke. Why did Lance have to try to resurrect those memories he so badly wanted to forget?
"Seeing your skinless boyfriend… wasn't it just… thrilling? His painful lingering until he finally died. Oh, and can you remember his final words?"
The silver-haired man covered his ears and screamed. He just screamed. A satisfied grin grew to Lance's lips, as safety guards ran through the doors, and started to drag the blonde man away. But suddenly Riku stopped screaming and tilted his head up.
"No… Can I talk a little bit longer with him?"
The guards gave amused glares to each other, but let Lance walk back to his chair.
"Lance…" Riku started, fighting against his mind. He just wanted to run away, far from this man, but something stopped him. He frowned, "…I came here… Not only to hear the reason why you killed Zack… But to tell you something."
Lance lifted his eyebrows, and smirked, "What is it my beloved hunny?"
Riku chuckled bitterly, his tone weak, yet surprisingly dangerous. Lance's lifted eyebrows furrowed. "I came here to tell you something I've always wanted to say…"
"?"
"You're nothing more but an obsessed piece of shit." Riku said, "Go away from my life. Go away from my memory. It'd be better if you'd just fade away… No one would be here to miss you. No one would even notice if you'd die right here and now."
Riku stood up, and turned around. He took few steps, before he heard Lance's chair fall on the floor, and loud yelling.
"DON'T YOU WALK AWAY FROM ME, RIKU! I SWEAR I COME AND MAKE YOU FEEL EVEN MORE MISERABLE THAN YOU ALREADY ARE! I'LL COME BACK AND TAKE THE SLUT WHO YOU'RE FUCKING RIGHT NOW!"
Riku narrowed his eyes, as he turned to look over his shoulder. All his fear towards the man had faded long time ago. Only thing he knew right now was anger and hatred. No one would touch Sora… No one would hurt his Sora…
"…Over my dead body."
A week passed before Sora could even notice. Today was Riku's band's first performance… And how much Sora wanted to go to hear Riku's angelic singing… He couldn't.
Reason number one: His mother wanted him to stay home, until he got his sight back. Which would take like… forever?
Reason number two: He still felt awkward to go to see Riku. What would he say when he saw him? Would Riku just look him as he'd be piece of shit, and walk away?
Sora shook his head. He really didn't even want to think about it. Even after a week, he had hear nothing from Riku… Not even a single call… Even Cloud didn't talk about him, even if they saw everyday, since they had their rehearsals so they'd be able to practice their song…
…Speaking of which, Sora was dying to hear the song…
"Sora, are you daydreaming again?" Cloud asked, as he walked into the living room, where his brother sat on a couch, staring blankly in front of him. The brunette's head turned slowly towards Cloud's voice and he grinned goofily.
"N-no!" He laughed stupidly, "Just… sitting here and… umm… thinking!"
"Yeah sure." Cloud shrugged and sat next to the brunette, "You know we have the first concert today…"
"Yeah… But mom doesn't want to let me go."
"But you'd like to hear Riku's singing, right?"
"…I… Of course!"
Cloud smirked and rubbed his forearm, looking thoughtful, "Well… If you really want to come… I guess I could lend a hand…"
Sora's blank eyes lit up, but only slightly. He jumped to his feet, and immediately fell on the floor because of Angelo, who was lying on the carpet. He laughed clumsily and apologized to the Border collie, which growled to his owner.
"Really? You could help me? Howhowhowhow! Come oooon! Tell me Clouuuud!"
"Relax!" Cloud chuckled, and jerked Sora up from the floor, guiding the blind one towards the front door, making sure that Aerith was still in the bathroom, so she wouldn't notice their… escape.
Cloud, Sora and Angelo quietly made their way out of the house, and ran few blocks away from their, just to make sure that their mother wouldn't caught them. After running a while, Cloud took his mobile phone from his phone and dialed Tifa's number.
"Hi Tifa… Yeah it's me… Could you come to pick us up?… Yeah, yeah, I know you still don't have a driving licence, but hey- you drove pretty well last time!… What?… No?… Please? Pretty please?… I have to get Sora to our concert, but I'm afraid to drag him into a local bus or anything, since… you know… You will? Thanks!"
Cloud shut his telephone and put it back to his pocket. He smirked to Sora, who currently stroked Angelo's head lovingly.
"Tifa will come to get us there with her… umm… her father's car."
"Tifa?" Sora asked, never stopping to pet his dog, "I didn't know she can drive."
Cloud gulped, but didn't answer. Sora would never even step on Tifa's car, if he'd know that she didn't have a driving licence… Oh well. Cloud looked at his watch- 7 p.m. already… Their concert will start at 9 p.m., so they had pretty much time.
Something twitched in Cloud's stomach. There were only few hours till their very first concert… and they only had had a mere week to practice their song… Of course he was nervous. At least he didn't have to sing… Man, he really envied Riku- he always was so cool… He felt so comfortable in front of a big crowd… But maybe he'd get used to it after a while.
"Are you nervous?"
Cloud looked at his little brother, who had a concerned look in those grayish eyes.
"Hmm? Why do you ask?"
"Oh… Dunno… You just act like you'd be nervous." Sora added quickly, and looked down at the ground.
Cloud sighed and slumped his shoulders, "Yeah, you're right. I am nervous… What if I mess up, or something? Damn, I wish we'd had more time to practice that song…"
"Heh…" Sora kneeled down on the pavement, and patted Angelo's back, which tail whipped happily, "…What's your bands name? Have you decided yet?"
"Yup!"
"…So? What is it?"
"You'll find out soon!"
"H-hey! No fair!"
"Hoh-hoh-hoo!"
Riku peered behind a curtain the auditorium, which was slowly filling with peoples. He inhaled a deep breath, and stepped few steps backwards. How long he had waited this moment? Butterflies flew in his stomach, as he turned around to look at the other bands, which were sitting on the bench in the back stage.
Yeah, that's right- this was a concert to new bands, which wanted to get some fame and money. Their band was only one out of twenty. This wasn't literally a competition, but still there were always some contents between the artist… Everyone had the same goal after all- to become famous. This was merely the first step on the road to the stars.
Riku walked to his three, already arrived, bandmates. Wakka and Yuffie were chatting nervously, as Leon were standing few steps away from them, leaning his back on a wall, his eyes closed.
"Hey, have you seen Cloud and Tifa?" Riku asked, when he reached Yuffie and Wakka. They both shook their heads and shrugged. Riku turned to look at Leon, who just kept his eyes closed and head slightly bowed, "…Leon?"
"Haven't seen them."
Yuffie rolled her eyes and walked to the brunette man, "Why are you all so quiet today Leon?"
"…"
"You don't want to talk about it?"
"Touché."
Yuffie shrugged and turned around, trying to act hurt, "Fine." She said, before walking back to Wakka and mumbling something about annoying and arrogant men to the orange-haired man, who lifted his eyebrow.
Riku bit his lip. Would Sora come to see their first performance? He highly doubted that- Aerith wouldn't let him come anyways. And… After all, Sora probably didn't even want to see him…
Being apart from Sora became harder and harder to bear everyday. His life felt so… Incomplete, without him around. It was hard to breathe without his little brunette… Everything felt so futile, if he couldn't have Sora. Even know, he could even let go off his dream, if that'd help him get Sora back.
"Ya okay?" Wakka patted Riku's back, bringing him back to earth from his thoughts. The silver-haired man nodded his head.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just little nervous from this all." Riku replied, looking around at the other bands. "So many bands… Not that this'd be a competition, but still, I'd hate to be worse than any of those."
"We're so not going to be worse than those losers!" Yuffie informed, with happy and low voice, "We're the best, you know?"
Riku chuckled and nodded. Of course they were the best. There'd be no one who'd beat them… No one.
"Sorry we're late!" Tifa apologized, as she run through the crowd, Cloud following right behind her. Riku just smiled, and waved his hand in the air carelessly.
"Well, we have pretty much time to kill." Riku said, folding his arms behind his head. "…The first band should start playing soon, but we are like… the last who'll perform."
Everyone groaned and rolled their eyes, expect for Leon, who just kept his arms folded and his eyes closed. Cloud glanced at the brunette man, faint smile gracing his lips. Leon was just… so cool sometimes. The blonde inhaled a dreamy breath, before turning his gaze to the floor. Riku, however, had noticed the man's glancing, and grinned widely.
He took few steps forward Cloud, and whispered into his ear, "I think he has a thing for you too…"
Cloud's head snapped up and he frowned to Riku, who whistled innocently, as he walked to Yuffie and Tifa, who were talking with Wakka. Cloud gulped, and bit his tongue. He didn't have absolutely no idea what Riku was talking about… Nonononoo…. He didn't like Leon… Nuh-uh! They were just friends (A/N: Don't make me laugh...)… Nothing more.
Suddenly the whole back stage become quiet, as the audience behind the curtain broke into fiery applause- the show was starting.
"Hello, and welcome to watch the 'Rising Stars' concert. Here we have new talented bands, taking their first steps towards the stars! This' not a competition, but a great opportunity to the young artist to show what they got!… So let's start the concert with our first band- Black Lotus!"
Riku watched as a group of Goth's walked to the stage, followed by loud applause from the crowd.
Their song was dark and, well… Dark. Riku glanced at his bandmates, who all rolled their eyes, or yawning. Indeed… The song was pretty boring.
After an hour, only ten of the bands had played. Cloud started to grow worried about Sora, who was in the audience alone, since he couldn't even bring Angelo with him… What if he'd get hurt, or if someone would kidnap him? Cloud bit his lip, glancing Tifa, who gave a calming smile to him. The blonde nodded, but couldn't help feeling worried about his little brother.
"This' boring! Why do we have to be the last!" Yuffie groaned, as she sat on the floor, bowing her head, "…We're so much better than any of those anyways!"
Riku humph-ed and smiled slightly. I wish Sora'd be here…
Sora sat nervously on his seat, afraid to move. Everyone around him cheered to the bands and clapped their hands, but he just squeezed the sides of the chair, hoping that Riku's band would be playing soon.
"…Ladies and gentlemen!" Someone said from the stage, "…It's time for our very last band! Welcome the fabulous- Melancholic Requiem!"
Sora stood up. That must be Riku's band! Peoples started to gasp their breaths and clap their hands. Sora could hear the girls next to him giggling, and saying: "Ohh, the singer is sooo cute!" or "They're all soooo cool!"
Sora grinned, and toyed his sleeve nervously.
"Hello everyone!" That's Riku's voice! Sora bounced up and down, excited. "…We're happy to see so many peoples today here! So… I guess we should just start singing then! This song... I wrote this song to make you –Sora- realize, how I'm feeling right now! I hope you're listening!"
Sora blinked his blind eyes, and sat down, as the music started to play…
(A/N: Linkin Park, breaking the habit! I don't own!)
"Memories consume
Like opening the wound
I'm picking me apart again
You all assume
I'm safe
here in my room
(unless I try to start again)"
Everyone gasped, including Sora, who was now again standing. This was… So amazing… Riku was… Riku was beyond good!
"I
don't want to be the one
The battles always choose
'Cause
inside I realize
That I'm the one confused
I don't
know what's worth fighting for
Or why I have to scream
I
don't know why I instigate
And say what I don't mean
I
don't know how I got this way
I know it's not alright
So
I'm
Breaking the habit
Tonight"
Sora could imagine in his head how Riku moved on the stage… How his hair waved in the air, and how he closed his eyes as he sang… Those lyrics… Sora couldn't remember if he had ever heard anything as good as this!
"Clutching
my cure
I tightly lock the door
I try to catch my breath
again
I hurt much more
Than anytime before
I had no
options left again"
Those lyrics… They were somewhat painful to Sora's ears… Did he really cause that much pain to Riku? Was… was all of this his fault? His mind kept spinning. Riku's voice was so addicting… Sora realized, that he wouldn't be able to live without it. Riku's angelic voice, sent chills down his spine and made his stomach feel funny.
"I dont want to be the one
The battles
always choose
'Cause inside I realize
That I'm the one
confused
I don't know what's worth fighting for
Or why I
have to scream
I don't know why I instigate
And say what I
don't mean
I don't know how I got this way
I'll never be
alright
So, I'm breaking the habit
I'm breaking the habit
Tonight"
Sora's knees gave up, and he fell on the floor. This song caused something inside of him… It made him feel guilty, yet so… so intoxicated.
"I'll
paint it on the walls
'Cause I'm the one at fault
I'll never
fight again
And this is how it ends
I don't know what's
worth fighting for
Or why I have to scream
But now I have some
clarity
to show you what I mean
I don't know how I got this
way
I'll never be alright
So, I'm breaking the habit
I'm
breaking the habit
I'm breaking the habit
Tonight"
The song was over too soon. Everyone clapped their hands together harder than they had before during the night. Wild screams and ecstatic gasps accompanied the loud applause, as the audience bounced up and down.
"Thank you, thank you!" Riku said to the microphone, panting slightly, "We're glad you liked! It looks like our first single will come out soon, so if you liked our song, we hope you'll buy it! We love you all! But I love especially you- SORA!"
Sora blushed and slowly got up from the floor. He sat on his seat, covering his red face into his palms. How could Riku say something like that so openly? And wait… Did he just say… That… He… Loved especially him? The blush on Sora's cheeks grew even wider, as he giggled quietly. Peoples around him gave him odd glances, but he didn't even notice them.
"Thank you Melancholic Requiem!" A man clapped his hands, and took the microphone from Riku, "Let's give last fierce applauses to the amazing band! We certainly hope that we'll more of you guys in the future!"
"Don't worry, you will!" Yuffie laughed to the microphone.
"Sure thing!" Tifa added, before yanking her sister back to back stages after the other bandmembers.
Sora sat on the seat, as the audience started to leave. Cloud had told him to wait there, until he'd come to get him.
…So he waited…
Soon, he was the only one sitting at the auditorium. Everything was so quiet and dark to Sora, who nervously bit his nails. What if Cloud had forgotten all about him? Nooo… He wouldn't forgot his little brother like that. Cloud wasn't like that.
But the darkness and coldness around Sora started to get disturbing, and he moved nervously around. How long he'd have to wait for his lazy ass brother to come and get him?
In the backstage, the whole band clapped their hands to each other and patted their backs.
"You did well Riku!" Cloud cheered to the silver-haired man, who grinned widely, "I bet Sora loved your voice!"
Riku frowned, and folded his arms, "…Sora wasn't here, was he?"
"Oh… Did I forget to mention?" Cloud asked, scratching back of his head absently, "Well, he was here! I brought him here, since he wanted so badly to come… My mother's gonna kill me though… Well, but anyways, like I was saying, I-"
But before Cloud could proceed further, Riku had already disappeared. He rolled his blue eyes and yelled after Riku, "He's probably waiting in the auditorium!"
Riku nodded, and ran out of the backstage, leaving Cloud and his other bandmates. Tifa walked to Cloud, lifting her eyebrows to Riku's back, "What's the matter with him?"
"…Sora…"
Sora bit his lip and bowed his head. He was starting to get a little bit afraid. He felt like a little child, who had got lost from his mother…
Suddenly he heard someone sit next to him, and he moved his head towards the stranger.
"Hi Sora."
Sora's eyes widened. It was Riku. Riku. The Riku. A blush grew to his pale cheeks, as he turned his head quickly away from the man he wasn't able to see. Did Riku even know about his current blindness? Maybe Cloud had mentioned it to him?
"…H-h-h-hi Ri-R-R-Riku…" Sora mumbled, "… Y-y-y-yo-you s-sang we-w-well!"
"Thanks." Riku stated simply, leaning his back on the comfortable seat. He looked around at the large hall. Good… There was no one around…
The silver-haired man closed the distance between him and Sora, until their sides were touching. The reddish color in the younger man's cheeks became even redder, as Riku snaked his arm around his waist.
"I'm sorry Riku…" Sora said, unable to say those words without staggering. "…Do you… Do you hate me Riku?"
Riku sighed and nuzzled his head to Sora's brown hair, "Of course not, silly. I could never hate you… The one I hate is… myself. I've done so many stupid things. I've hurt you so badly Sora… That I can't ever forgive to myself. That's why… I had to avoid you for a while. I just couldn't look at you, when you were so sad… because of me."
Sora smiled weakly, feeling a familiar burning feeling in the back of his eyes. Slowly a tear made its way down his cheek, but before it could drop down from his jaw, Riku wiped it away.
"…Please don't cry Sora… It hurts so much to see you sad…" Riku whispered into Sora's ear, pulling Sora to his lap, "…Please… I just want to make it all better."
"I… Riku…"
"Shush…"
Riku stood up, and gently pulled Sora up with him. He took the brunette man's hand in his, and kneeled down to the dusty floor. The other male blinked, as he felt the other's strange position. "…Riku?"
"…Sora…" Riku started, his heart thumping hardly, as he pulled something from his pocket, "…I've planning on asking you this long time ago… I've bough this ring when… I can't even remember! But, let's not stick on the little details…"
Sora tilted his head a little to the side, and squeezed Riku's hand, "…Riku, what are you-"
"Sora- Will you marry me?"
CC:giggles:
Sora:blushes:
Riku:grins:
Axel: … Umm… Looks like I'm the only one sane here… So, CC is happy if you review and… Umm… :glances at the three: Well, thanks you who already reviewed. She's pretty tired now, and goes to sleep… Good night…