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:
Whee, thanks! Yeah, that was kind of unexpected, but I hope that was still cute… I mean, c'mon! Riku proposing Sora, I think it's just so aaawww… But, errm… Whatever.
No, this isn't even at the near of the end. There will be lots of… stuff coming up. Hehee…
Chapter #15, It's Not Over
"Sora- Will you marry me?"
Sora's eyes widened. Did Riku just say what he thought he had said? No, this has to be some kind of joke… This… This can't be true! For god's sake! The brunette man squeezed Riku's hand, just to make sure that the silver-haired man really was there.
"I know this' kind of odd… Your best friend proposes you, but… I just…" Riku said, "…When we were apart, if found out that I can't… live without you."
"…Riku…"
Sora's head started to spin and butterflies flew in his stomach. He bit his lip nervously, not sure how to reply to Riku's sudden proposal… Of course he wanted to be with Riku… But still… There was something that kept him from saying 'yes'. There had happened so many things, which had made him see Riku in a whole different view.
…We aren't anything what we used to be…
"…Riku…" Sora said again. "…I… I can't."
The silver-haired man bowed his head in defeat. He stood up, and shoved the ring back to his pocket.
"I… understand." Riku sighed, and yanked Sora into a half-hearted hug, "After how I treated you… It's no wonder. But… Even if you don't love me- I can't ever stop loving you."
Riku pushed Sora away gently. The younger male tried to fight back tears, but somehow, his eyes started to wet and his vision became fuzzy.
"I'm… I… I'm so sorry…" Sora said, and turned around, ready to run the fastest he could.
"DON'T BE STUPID SORA!"
Something flew hard across Sora's face, causing him to fall right back to Riku's arms.
"SAY 'OH, RIKU, OF COURSE I WANT TO MARRY YOU AND I LOVE YOU TILL THE END OF TIME!' ARE YOU STUPID?" Cloud bounced up and down furiously, pointing Sora with his finger, "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU! WHAT I DID WRONG, SINCE MY BROTHER BECAME AN IDIOT FOOL, WHO CAN'T SEE HIS HAPPINESS GO RIGHT PAST HIS EYES! AAARGH!"
Leon stood few feet behind the lunatic blonde. He shook his head weakly to Riku, and shrugged. He had tried to stop Cloud from eavesdropping, but… You know- over-protective big brothers…
"C-Cloud! Were you spying on me?" Sora stood up straightly and walked towards Cloud's voice, "Can't you mind your own business!"
Cloud walked to his little brother and slammed his head. The brunette man groaned and held his head, but before he could strike back, Cloud started to yank him away from the auditorium, firm grab on his right earflap.
"Owowowowowoww… L-let go, Cloud!"
"No, I'm going to give you a lesson you'll ever forget."
Riku lifted his eyebrow, as he watched two siblings fight away from the large hall. Then he turned his head towards Leon, who, somehow, managed to hide his smirk. The silver-haired man grinned stupidly, and looked down at the floor, where lied an empty coke can, which Cloud had thrown to Sora's head.
"You're crazy." Leon stated suddenly, folding his arms. "Lucky son of a bitch."
"How come? Sora just rejected me?" Riku frowned to the brunette scarface.
"And I thought I was dense." Replied Leon, before walking away. Riku frowned deeper and shook his head.
It felt strange… Even if Sora had rejected him, it didn't feel like the game was over. Of course, it hurt to hear that 'I can't' from Sora, but then again… It's not like Riku would give up now, right?
A wide grin appeared to Riku's lips.
…It's not over…
"What's your problem, Cloud!" Sora cried, as he and his elder brother stood in a small closet. After crying some more, Sora sniffed and made a firm pout to his lips. The blonde man just frowned and shook his head wearily.
"I can't believe it. You're so… so…" Cloud said, but couldn't think of how to proceed. So, he just folded and eyed the younger one.
"You don't have to interfere to my business…" Sora pouted, and closed his eyes. Cloud wouldn't understand… In fact, he didn't understand by himself either. His mind was in an emotional chaos, more than it was before, but Riku's proposal had made all worse. Too much problems… Life can be really cruel…
Cloud leaned his back on a wall, "Really, we all know how badly you want to be with Riku, so what's the matter?"
"I…" Sora started weakly, "…Riku's… Riku's so different nowadays… Like there would be something I don't know. Do you know, is he hiding something from me?"
Yes… "…No."
"Oh… I guess I'm just being a paranoid then…" Mumbled the brunette, while toying his jacket's sleeve. "…You know… Riku's so cool. I wonder why he likes me anyways? And I wonder why we are such a good friends?"
"Because…" Cloud rubbed his nose, "…Because, he thinks you're unique. I think… Uhh… But no one really knows what our little devil Riku is thinking… Heh-heh-hee…"
Sora blushed, "C-Cloud! You're the only one who's devil here!… But no matter what… I… ah, never mind."
The blonde opened his mouth to nag what Sora was about to say, but his phone rang in his pocket. He cursed, and pulled out his cool shell-alike black phone (A/N: Same kind as he has in AC ;D). He opened the valve and answered.
"Cloud… Yes?… Oh, yeah, you said the results would come in a few days… No, not really… Huh?"
Sora could feel Cloud's expression change into death serious… This meant no good.
"…A-are you sure?… I-is it that bad?… No… Ah, yes… How much… Shit… I'll think about it… Yes, tomorrow at three o'clock… Thanks, bye…"
Cloud shut his phone, strangely quiet. He didn't say anything, he barely breathed. The atmosphere was too awkward for Sora's taste. The brunette took few steps forward his big brother, and reached his hand to touch the blonde man.
"Y-you okay, Cloud?" He asked, as he found the other's shoulder.
"Yeah… I'm fine. Totally fine. Nothing's wrong… Really, don't worry about it Sora." Cloud mumbled, and patted the brunette's head, "I'm going to be fine… It was just… A friend of mine… Yeah, a friend!"
But even Sora wasn't naive enough to not notice that fakeness of those words.
Tidus sat in the living room, watching as Cid drank another beer can empty. The blonde had already lost count how many beers his father had taken in a mere hour. It wouldn't take much longer until his father would fall asleep.
"Dad, I think you shouldn't drink any-"
But before Tidus could finish his sentence, Cid started snoring and the beer-can he had been holding, dropped down on the floor.
"-more…"
The blonde man shrugged, and stood up. It'd maybe be better if he'd just leave his father there. When Cid was sobering, he always get somewhat… violent. Not that he hurt Tidus, but cleaning up all those broken vases and stuff, started to get a little bit annoying.
Tidus yanked his jacket, and walked out of the door, without even glancing towards his sleeping father.
The night was pretty cold. Well, it was nearly the winter, and it'd be snowing anytime now. But right now- only death leaves and frozen puddles covered the dead ground.
…But still… There was something that Tidus liked in autumn. Even if it was cold, rainy, dead and all, something attracted Tidus in it. He just couldn't put that to the words. It just was his favorite season.
Pale moon shone against the dark blue sphere, through thick clouds. It was so quiet… Strangely quiet really. The cold wind brushed gently against the blonde's cheeks, as he walked (once again) aimlessly around.
Maybe if he'd just wander somewhere, he'd find Wakka again? … Wait… Why was he thinking about him? Tidus shook his head and shoved his hands into his pockets, and felt something in there. He pulled out a paper, where was digits written hastily. He smiled faintly, as he shoved the paper back into his pocket.
"It's so complicated." Tidus said, as he approached a deserted beach, "…Selphie maybe right…"
The ocean wasn't frozen yet… But then again, it never froze. Nevertheless, only nuts would go swimming into it right now.
Tidus walked closer the coastline. Waves swept over the sand, right in front of Tidus' fee, brining white seashells along. The water was pure and shone beautifully in the moonlight. It was… Umm… Romantic night, you could say.
"Up pretty late, ya?"
Tidus spun around and saw an orange-haired man approaching him.
How come Wakka found him everytime he got astray? Maybe it was because they were destined to be together? Tidus snickered faintly- he spent too much time with Selphie… He was thinking like a lovesick schoolgirl, aka, Selphie.
"Umm… Yeah…" Tidus said, and turned around to face the waves again, "Why are you here?"
"We had just our first concert… Just wanted to clear up my mind." Wakka replied, as he walked next to Tidus. After glancing at the ocean for a while, he sat on the cold sand, and motioned Tidus to accompany him. The blonde sat hesitating slightly, for some weird reason.
The silence surrounded them. Only slow bubbling of the waves could be heard, as the atmosphere became torturing awkward.
"It's pretty beautiful tonight, ya?"
"Yeah…"
After this small word's exchange, the stillness returned. Tidus pondered how he could break the agony silence, but he was too nervous to even think. Somehow Wakka's presence made him feel weak and stupid. He was afraid to open his mouth- what if he'd say something what would make Wakka mad, or make him disgust him? No, why he did even care about how Wakka's thoughts towards him?
The blonde sighed, and turned to look at the older male, which was currently lying on the cool sand, his eyes closed. Tidus sighed again, and leaned his chin to his knees, as he hugged his legs. It was starting to get pretty cold…
"Ya know—I'd be fun if you'd see our performance…" Wakka said suddenly, opening his left eye, and gazing towards Tidus, "…Yeh, well… Peoples came crazy when they heard our playin'."
"Heh…"
Wakka groaned and slapped Tidus' forearm playfully, "Aww, man! Could you be a little more talkative, ya?"
"Ah… I…" Tidus mumbled, and stood up, "I… I gotta go!"
The blonde turned around, but a strong arm around his wrist stopped his fleeing. He looked over his shoulder, and saw Wakka, who frowned deeply.
"You're avoidin' me, ya?" He asked, his tone strangely firm.
"Huh? No, I'm not! Why would I?" Tidus laughed goofily, while he pulled his hand away from Wakka's grip. All he wanted to do was run away- fast. He was afraid that something would happen, if he wouldn't get out of here… There was something strange at the orange-haired man… He was like a magnet- he pulled Tidus towards him with oddly, invisible force.
"Listen, I don't know ya pretty well yet, but I can tell that there's somethin' strange in ya." Wakka said, and placed his hand to Tidus' shoulder.
The blonde gasped, as Wakka squeezed his shoulder gently. He looked down at the sand, afraid to make an eye contact with the other man.
"Do you believe love at the first sight?" Tidus slipped, before he could even think what he was saying. He slapped his cheek, and cursed slightly. Really- where did THAT come from? He couldn't believe that he had actually said that!
"Huh?"
"Ah, eh-heh-hee, never mind! Forget it!" Tidus said, and shoved Wakka's hand away from his shoulder, before starting to run away.
But before he could go more than then steps, strong hand stopped him again by grabbing his wrist. A surprised sound escaped from his lips, as he was spun around, and something wet was pressed against his lips… He blinked few times, but before he could realize what was happening, the wetness was away.
Wakka removed his lips from Tidus' and straightened his back. He buried his nose into Tidus' dirty blonde hair, and whispered:
"I do… Believe in love at the first sight."
Cloud was strangely quiet, as he approached Riku, Leon, Yuffie and Tifa. Sora followed him silently, his hand around his arm, so he wouldn't get lost in the big concert hall.
"Is something wrong, Cloud?" Tifa asked, as she saw the death serious expression in the blonde's face. The said one, however, just shook his head, and remained silent. The black-haired woman frowned and folded her arms. Something was going on… Something bad.
But she wasn't only one who had noticed the change in Cloud's usual appearance- the rest of the band had also noted the seriousness.
"…Where's Wakka?" Cloud asked, just to change the subject. He wasn't in the mood to talk about it.
"He left already… Said that he wanted to take a walk." Yuffie informed, eyeing Cloud.
Riku, however, let his attention wander towards Sora, who was turning his head around unsure where to 'look' at. Seeing Sora turning his head like that made Riku's stomach twitch. It was so horrible to see Sora like that… All of that pain… Oh, how he just wanted to wash it all away.
"Earth to Riku!" Yuffie waved her hand in front of Riku's face, trying to draw his attention towards her, "You were talking about meeting tomorrow?"
"Oh yeah…" Riku mumbled, and rubbed back of his head, "Well, we all have to go to SA-records tomorrow. Sephiroth wants to talk all of us about something… Maybe about a CD contract or something."
"Huh, really?" Tifa asked, smiling widely, "Wow, that's just awesome!"
"Alright!" Yuffie cheered and made few dancing steps. She pumped her fist into the air, and turned to look at her sister, "Like I told you, sis! We're on the roll!"
Tifa laughed, and shook her head tiredly, "I think we should go home- you're starting to get too tired."
"Hey, I'm not 'too tired'!"
"You're too, now let's go." Tifa stated, and started to jerk her sister towards the large doors, which led outside of the building, "I know it'd be fun to celebrate our first concert, but let's do it tomorrow, okay guys?"
Riku nodded his head, and watched after the two siblings, before they disappeared out of the doors.
It was totally quiet for a while. Sora started to get slightly nervous, and he squeezed harder his brother's arm, like he'd be afraid that Cloud would vanish if he wouldn't hold him tight enough.
"Cloud." Leon stated suddenly, stepping out of the shadows of one of the corners, "…I want to talk with you."
Everyone was surprised by this sudden action from the silent man, who never wanted to talk with anyone. Cloud nodded awkwardly, and took his arm away from Sora. He followed the leather-dressed man out of the room, leaving Sora alone with Riku.
Yes. Alone.
Sora could sense Riku's eyes glaring him. He didn't know where to turn his head, or what he should do. But those eyes, which were certainly piercing through him, made him feel more awkward than he had ever felt.
"Ahh… R-Riku…" Sora mumbled nervously, while bowing his head, "Uhh… Umm… I… Ehh… You know…"
A grin spread to Riku's lips, as he folded his arms, and gave an amused look towards the blind man, "Are you nervous So-ra?"
"Me? N-no! W-why would I be nervous?"
"Riiiight…" Riku rolled his aqua-colored eyes, "Hmm… Let's go sit, I think Leon and Cloud may take a while…"
Sora barely nodded, as Riku grabbed his arm, and guided him towards a wooden bench, which was between two large plants. The silver-haired man pushed the other man to sit on the chair, and sat right next to him.
"Oh, so looks like you don't want to marry me…" Riku said carelessly, while leaning towards the poor brunette, who had no idea about his plans, "…That's sad… You know that hurt me…"
Sora could tell from Riku's voice that he was just teasing, but…
"Riku, I…"
Riku 'accidentally' let his hand slip against Sora's thigh, causing the younger male to gasp widely.
"Oh, ooops… My bad." Riku snickered, and let his hand rest on top of Sora's leg, not minding Sora's confused expression at all.
Sora gulped as he put his own hand on top of Riku's and tried to shove it away, but in vain, since Riku had no intentions of removing his hand. He gulped again… And again… His face was in flames, as red color spread across his cheeks, covering his whole face.
But this of course, only made Riku even more… errmm… perverted.
"R-R-Ri-Riku… W-what a-ar-are you d-doing?" Sora managed to gasp finally, after opening and closing his mouth like a goldfish.
"Oh, do you mind?" Riku asked innocently, before removing his hand, and snaking it around Sora's shoulders, "So, you want to be 'just friends' with me, hmm?"
The brunette growled, and shut his eyes. Did Riku have to tease him like that? What was he trying to pull? Was he angry because he didn't say 'yes' to his proposal? Oh, that must be the reason… Sora chewed his lip thoughtfully. It was all so… wrong…
"Riku, it's not what you think it is." Sora said after a while, "…I… Well, you know… Maybe it's better if we're just friends…"
It hurt… It hurt more than Riku had thought it would. He took his arm from around Sora's shoulders, and grew the distance between them. He looked down at his trainers, trying to keep his tone normal, "…Of course. It's not like we could ever be together, right?"
"Riku, I'm sorry…"
"No, don't be."
Riku stood up and started to walk away… He didn't even turn around to say goodbye… Not even glancing over his shoulder. Nothing. Sora just heard slow footsteps carrying away, and eventually- there was only silence all around him. No Riku…
He buried his face to his palms. What he had been thinking? He didn't want to be 'just friends' with Riku. He wanted to be with him! He wanted to love him! So why he just didn't say it out loud? For God's sake, what was wrong with him?
Why he couldn't admit it to Riku? He knew Riku loved him too, and those words: 'just friends' had probably hurt the one he loved badly! Why he just had to be so… so idiot, since he couldn't say three simple words to the one he so much wanted to say them? That one simple sentence… It would all be so different, if he'd have said it…
Why did Love be so fucking hard? What he had ever done wrong, since life had to punish him with so mean ways?
"RIKU I LOVE YOU!" He screamed into the empty concert hall… But there was no one to hear his screaming.
Leon leaned his back on a wall, his expression firm, yet thoughtful, as he eyed the blonde man.
"Tell me, what's wrong." He asked coldly, "…I don't usually care what's wrong with other peoples, but I make an exception this time."
Cloud frowned, "What do you mean? There's nothing wrong, and you can just keep on minding just your own business."
"There is something wrong."
"No there's not."
"…"
Cloud pouted, and folded his arms over his chest, "Okay, there's something wrong. But it's none of your business, and I don't want to trouble you anyways. Thank you for your concern, but I don't really feel like I'd need it."
The blonde man spun around, facing his back to Leon, who let out a frustrated sigh. Whoever said that women were hard to understand?
"…Please, Cloud."
Cloud's eyes widened. Did Leon just beg for him to tell? Beg? No, great Leon doesn't beg, does he? The blonde man turned around, and looked at those eyes, which usually held no emotions in them… Well, there was no emotion this time either.
For a while, they just glanced into each other's eyes, before Cloud actually understood what he was doing, and tore his eyes from the other one's. He hawked, and looked down.
"…Leon… I don't want you to get involved with this… Since I know, if I'd tell you, or to anyone… They'd just start to worry pointlessly, and try to help me… Even if there's no hope." Cloud said, his eyes fixed on the floor.
"…" Leon shook his head, and walked to the blonde man. A little bit awkwardly, Leon patted Cloud's shoulder, "I used to think that way too."
"Huh?"
"…Before I met you… I thought there was no hope." Leon said, before folding his arms and leaning his back on the wall, gesturing that the conversation was over. Cloud tilted his head to left slightly, not sure if he get it, but he knew that he wouldn't get any better answer from the brunette.
"Thank you…" Cloud said, "…And I'm sorry."
CC: I used too much word 'awkward' in this chapter… Oh well, it's an interesting word. :lol:
Sora:sigh:
CC: What's wrong Sora?
Sora: …:mutteringmumblingmuttering:
CC. Uhh… Let me guess, it's because of Riku?
Sora:nodnod:
CC: Hmm… Don't worry, everything's gonna be alright.
Sora: …
CC: Thank you reviewers, and hope you liked this chapter (too)! Please revieeeew!