ANGEL DUST
By: Yukisora
CHAPTER 01
The Hell is a Paopu?
"The mind is its own place and
can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven."
-- John Milton "Paradise
Lost"
---
The truth behind the origin of the Paopu lay long and deep. There has never been real proof of their existence. However, as the story goes, the almighty Lord himself created the fruits once upon a time, when the Universe was still young and the human race had barely begun. Humans, at that time, were little more than just innocent lambs themselves. More than anything, the Lord loved them for their pure souls, loved them for their sweet nature. Eight fruits. Taking a week and a day, the Lord finished creating a total of eight Paopu fruits that represented the eight principles he wanted them to follow.
Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Faithfulness. Goodness. Truth. These were the eight guides that should have been the guide to all humanity. The eight guardians that should have protected the souls from the evil that lurked in the shadows. But that was not the case.
As the story goes, on a day where a dearly beloved Angel of the Lord's was in the Garden of Wonderland, he happened to stumble upon the Paopu. There, standing within the middle of the Garden, surrounded by all the gentle and loving spirits of the Universe, stood the magnificent Paopu tree with its eight golden fruits. Even in Paradise, where all things are beautiful, the Paopu stood out. A simple fruit of golden honey, shaped like that of a luminous star, the eight fruits hung tantalizingly above the little Angel.
It became inevitable that the Angel would be tempted with curiosity. Even as the Lord warned the young Angel to leave his precious Paopu fruits be, the Angel returned the next day, and the next, and the next, and the day after that. It was said that, on one such day—no one knows when exactly—the Angel finally was overcome with curiosity and took a Paopu off the tree. The single paopu he took, the Paopu of Truth, died the moment it was picked from the life source of the magnificent Tree.
When the Lord learned of the crime committed by his beloved Angel, he had no choice but to banish him from the Heavens. With the dying Paopu still in his hands, the Angel left Paradise, tears smearing the purity of his soul.
Therefore, the Paopu of Truth was no more, leaving only its seven brothers and sisters in Wonderland, guarding and leading the purity of humanity. However, with Truth forever out of humanity's grasp, the power of Hell increased. It is no longer rare that humans lied. Lies that were meant to deceive. Lies that were meant to hide.
Lies that were meant to hurt and harm.
---
When dealing with Devils, it's best to remember whom you're dealing with. Or so said Nauticaa, the author of The Guide to Dealing with Hellion Creatures. Don't forget: they're ruthless, evil, and absolutely cold-blooded monsters, who would strip away your angelic essence at the first chance given. That and they'd love to make your life another form of total and complete torture!
Remember to be firm. To be assertive. To be absolutely unbendable. If you've got at least two out of the three criteria, you'll most likely be able to win...
With feathers raining all over the fields of Heaven, Sora 'hmmmed' as he flew across the sky. Small wind spirits caught his light weight on the air, as he perused the final segment of the scroll.
A certain need for cunningness and sneakiness is required, when dealing with a Devil. However, remember to balance that with your angelic morals! Don't let that Devil lead you to the path of Hell!
With a desolate sigh, Sora released the scroll, allowing it to float above his hands for a few seconds before disappearing all together. Pouting—that was yet another useless work—he pulled onto his left earring as he closed his eyes. It's already been weeks. Weeks since he returned to Heaven. Weeks since he'd failed his final examination. Weeks since he'd restarted his classes in the Academy to prepare for his Final again.
Oh yea, and weeks since he'd brought a Devil to Heaven.
Trainee. Devil Trainee. Which is the same as a Devil!
But that's not even the point. You'd think that a Devil, even one that's not official yet, would stick out like a sore thumb in Heaven. After all, what part of the evil red horn, pitchfork wielding, black-winged, horrible-fanged get up would go with Heaven? You'd think that, at first glance, all the Warrior Angels in Heaven would raise their swords and swear vengeance against the evildoer of Doom!
But nooo. Pitch fork or no, the stupid mistake that Sora picked was special. There's no way that the great Devil Riku would ever NOT fit in...anywhere. Forget the horns and add a currently nonexistent halo. Ditch the fangs for beautiful pearly whites. And what pitch fork? The guy's always holding some...Heavenly thing, or another.
And why was it that Riku, being a creature of Hell, didn't explode into tiny pieces of flesh the moment his molecules went near the holy Gates of Heaven? Because he, Sora, had severely screwed up at his Final Exam. Mistaking that ridiculous Devil for a human, Sora gave him his Dust. His Angel's dust. So now, Riku, who could be the incarnate of Sephiroth himself, was sitting oh-so-comfortably in Heaven, and enjoying the title of the Trainee with the Most Potential since Sora's first year in Heaven.
Ha. Talk about ironic.
Somewhere along the way, Sora had missed a step. He just knew it. Maybe he'd missed it when he actually gave that Devil the dust. Or maybe when he'd actually let Kairi and Selphie take that Devil away from him. Or maybe when he'd actually let a Devil into the premises of the Academy.
Wherever it was, it was something he had to fix. Now.
Biting his lips, Sora vaguely wondered if he should tell one of the Training Masters. Twiddling with the spirits as he flew past the Trainee's Meadow, he landed on the edge of the Atlantican Sea. He could just imagine the scenario right now. Master Cloud's disappointed face as Sora confessed to him the biggest folly in the history of Heaven ever. Never mind that that evil Devil might actually do something to his wonderful Master. Lord forbid.
His head dropped quietly onto the green grass, as he retracted his wings back into himself. A gentle wind spirit soothed his cinnamon bangs, as sapphire eyes glimmered out into the calling sea. No, this time he'll have to fix his mistakes on his own. No matter what happens, whatever it is that Devil might do, Sora'll have to deal with it. No more of Master Cloud and his sympathetic voice, as he gently soothed Sora. No Master Leon's gruff, noncommittal advice. None of Kairi's reality checks. No Selphie to help him in her subtle—well, not so subtle—ways. This mistake Sora'll have to fix. All on his own.
Oh God, he's so screwed.
Even as Sora started banging his head against the grass, the clamoring of the water spirits alerted him. Looking up, alarmed at the proximity of their mental voices, Sora's eyes widened when he saw the small wave of water directly above his head. Holy Saints of Avalon, he thought dimly as the entire contents of the water dumped themselves over his head, dragging him back into the sea with them.
The water spirits were so excited in being able to play with Sora again that he was only allowed a single "Gyahhh!" before he was thrown into the depths of the waters. Sputtering, silently soothing the water spirits, he'd just thrown himself back onto the surface when he heard the nearby snickering. The really familiar snickering. Belonging to a very familiar voice. And a very familiar body too.
"Riku."
Swirling his gaze back onto the shore, sure enough, the bane of his existence lounged at a nearby tree, swirling one of his own feathers leisurely as he regarded Sora's predicament.
What are Devils? Mind readers? Were they, like, summoned if you think about them or something? Cause, Sora'll have them know, that he did NOT want him here! He did NOT want to have to see him! He did NOT because Sora didn't like Devils. Nuh-uh. So he should just go AWAY.
"Hey, Angel," Riku grinned, flicking his feather back onto his wing, before jumping off the tree. Smirking with a confidence only a pampered Devil would have, he cocked his head to the left, letting his curtain of silver hair gleam as they caught the sunlight. "A little wet today aren't we?"
OK. So he's not. A mind reader, that is. That or he seriously didn't care about what Sora wanted because he didn't look like he's leaving anytime soon.
"What are you doing here?" he accused, as he got out of the water.
If Sora hadn't been looking deeply, he would have missed it. That slight gleam in his eyes and that nearly inscrutable rise of an eyebrow, before his entire countenance changed. Emerald eyes widening in a way that'd gotten him out of, no doubt, countless jams before, Riku let an affable smile onto his face. "Keeping you company?"
Sora blushed, huffed. "Yea right," he muttered, as he wringed the water out of his gown. Blinking furiously, he let the water drip out of his hair.
Riku smirked. Jumping before the angel, he pulled the cinnamon bangs back so that he could see the cherry shaded cheeks. "Aw, does this mean you don't want me here?"
Sora pouted. "Didn't you sense my brain vibes? It was screaming 'away!' and 'Go back to Hell!' and...yea!"
Riku blinked. "Brain vibes? Angels read brain vibes?"
"No," Sora sighed. "Devils read them—the minds. We believe in privacy, so we don't jump into people's heads."
"Oh, really." Riku grinned, fluttering his white wings a little. "And you got that idea...where?"
"Master Cloud taught it to us!" Sora frowned, crossing his arms. "It's the first Law in the Code! Angels must respect other living beings!"
"I didn't...what?" Scrunching his eyebrows in confusion, Riku shook his head. "You know what, never mind. I don't think I'll ever understand how your mind works." Rocking back onto his heels, Riku raised a brow as he regarded the Angel Trainee. "So, what were you doing here?"
"Eating, can't you tell?"
"Sarcasm, babe." Riku tsked, as he wagged a finger at him. "But, well, since you're here and I'm here and we're alone..." Riku breathed out a little, letting his eyelids drop as he leaned into the younger immortal's ear. "Why don't we..."
"What are you two doing now?" Kairi asked, narrowing her eyes at the proximity between the two Trainees. "Sakis, get your arm off of Sora before his face permanently stays red."
"But don't you think pink's a nice shade for So-ra?" Riku teased, nudging the blushing brunette for a sec. Grinning when the angel pouted at him, brows lowered as a sulk began to form. He poked a puffed cheek once before releasing him.
"So?" Selphie grinned as she landed beside Kairi. "What are you two doing here alone?" she asked, drawing out the last word, wagging her eyebrow suggestively. She scrunched her nose together as she added, "And all wet?"
"Sora said he was eating and got attacked by water spirits. I'm here to observe and offer my consolation."
"...huh?"
"Attacked?" Kairi added. "Why?" She raised a brow at the glare Sora shot Riku. "By Sakis?"
"Of course it's him! Who else?"
"How mean, Sora! I'm hurt."
"You were actually caught by Sakis?" Kairi repeated, as she started to laugh.
"Now I'm really hurt."
Selphie giggled. Sora flushed, as Riku launched into their mind reading conversation, with the Angel Trainee desperately trying to shut him up by beating him with his fists. Her clear eyes rose slightly, when she saw Sora flush all the way to his roots as Riku cuffed him around the neck and brought him close.
Two explanations: there were only two plausible explanations for Sora's cherry cheeks. One, he's had too much sun. This was all wrong because, well, Angels can never have too much sun. And, besides, the sun's not high right now. Or, two, and the more likely of the two reasons, it was Sakis.
Sora flapped his wings desperately, trying in vain to get Riku off him. "Stop reading my mind! Stop reading it! I'm telling you, I won't believe you 'cause—"
"What? Because I'm gonna lie?"
Selphie's second brow rose as, suddenly, everyone froze.
"OK, that's it!" With strength borne out of desperation, Sora jumped, landing rather expertly on the disguised Devil.
"Whoa! Angel, I'm gonna—"
"Gaaaah!"
"Sora, you idiot!" Kairi laughed, as the two entangled Trainees fell onto the ground.
"Give it back! Give it back! Give me my thoughts back!"
Riku chuckled and attempted to sit up, only to be thrown back down by Sora's small fists. Shaking his head a little, he dropped back down onto the grass. It didn't look like Sora's about to let him up any time soon and, well, frankly, he rather liked the position right with all its kinky connotations.
"Stop laughing! Evil, evil! You're so evil!"
"Weird," Riku grinned as he reached up to tug a cinnamon strand. "You jumped me and I'm evil."
"Oh God, stop that, you morons," Kairi rolled her eyes, lips twitching slightly. "Sora, mind jumping a first year some other time? And Sakis, stop teasing Sora. I could've sworn Master Leon's giving you guys a lesson right now. What are you doing here?"
"Oh yea!" Riku turned to Sora and grinned. "I almost forgot. He told me to come get you because he needed you for something."
"Wait, WHAT?" Sora's eyes widened, as he tried to jump off Riku, only to trip on his gown and fall back down. "Ah, ouch-ch-ch-ch..." he groaned, as he rubbed his left elbow. Glaring slightly at the Riku, he added, "And you didn't tell me earlier...why?"
"Well, I thought you could read my mind..."
"NO! You can read my mind and—gaah, never mind!"
---
"What do you mean Cupid?"
Kairi stared, incredulous, at the glittering eyes of one of her closest friend. She'd known Selphie since her first day in the Academy. After all, being in the same year, the two had gone through mishaps and training together since the first time their souls have met. No one, with perhaps the exception of God and Sora alone, knew Selphie better than Kairi. So, after the first day of her acquaintance with Selphie, it was immediate to the practical and levelheaded Trainee that, well, Selphie was anything but practical and levelheaded. Which was, OK, most of the time. When Kairi didn't have to deal with cleaning up after Selphie's crazy schemes. Which happened most of the time.
"Well, Kai, generally, when someone wants to 'play Cupid,' as you so nicely said it—"
"Do you have any idea how much trouble we could get into? Messing around with love?" Kairi hissed, checking once quickly to make sure that their history Master, Rikku, was still bubbling happily away.
"Hmph. Who's messing with love?" Selphie asked, crossing her arms together, as her eyes turned sulky. "We're just going to...nudge a budding relationship along."
"...OK. I repeat, do you have any idea—"
"Oh come on!" Throwing her arms out, Selphie leaned forward and smashed her desk, made of clouds, into Kairi's, merging their two clouds into one. "They're perfect for each other."
"Sora and Sakis! What gave you that idea?"
"Well, first of all, both their names start with an 'S'."
Alright. That's it. There's no way that Selphie is not joking here. Staring at her friend, waiting expectantly, she searched for signs of cracking up. A second passed, then two, with the staring contest never breaking off. There were no signs. No twitch of the lips, the dancing in the eyes. Absolutely no signs whatsoever.
Which leads back to the original idea that...well, Selphie was serious.
Oh dear Lord.
"You. Are. In. Sane." Came the terse reply, as Kairi turned back to Rikku's ramblings about the Emacipine Wars.
"You. Know. I'm. Right." Selphie countered, poking at her friend's arm until she turned and glared at her again. "I mean, really, Kai. You can't tell me you didn't sense their auras. I say they're one hundred percent compatible!"
"That's what you said about Joanie and Louie. Because their names both ended in 'IE'." Kairi reminded, pointing an accusing finger at her. "And look at them now. Joanie's with Yuuhi and Louie's with Shankiya and they both can't stand each other."
"I still say they're supposed to be together." Selphie sniffed. "And, I'm telling you, if you'd let me feed them that Realization Potion, they'd be so happily in love right now..."
"Selphie..."
"But that's not even the point," she hastily added. Shaking her head, she pouted at her friend as she sprawled onto the cloud. "We're not talking about Joanie and Louie. We're talking about Sora and Sakis, which is a match made in Heaven. They won't even need the potion to be together."
Kairi snorted. "If they're such perfect matches, then they'd both get together eventually, without help from us."
"Yea, but it might take them centuries, Holy Father please forbid! You know Sora!"
"Alright, by then, Sakis might have gone halfway through his training. So?"
"So? Kai, how can you be so cold! Don't you want Sora to be eternally happy? If it was SORA, I bet he'd do anything—"
"Geez, Selph, keep your voice down!" Kairi shushed, throwing an arm out. Rolling her eyes at Selphie, since, geez, she'd never known anyone to be a more dramatic drama queen, she fluffed her hair. "I mean, yea, of course I want Sora happy. But this is crazy. You can't even be sure that Sora and Sakis are meant to be together."
"They are! I'm telling you." Selphie pouted. "I just know it. But if you're still so unsure, agree to help me, and I'll prove it to you."
"Prove it to me?"
"You guuuys." Selphie and Kairi both squeaked as Sora's cloud suddenly descended between their own. "What are you whispering about? The entire class can see that you're talking. If you don't stop soon, Master Rikku's gonna figure out you're not paying attention!"
Selphie, reaching behind Sora, pinched Kairi as the Trainee opened her mouth to tell Sora their conversation.
"OW! Selphie!"
"Actually," Rikku beamed as she turned to look at Kairi, "what he prophesized was that we must finish the Gates soon, because the troops from Hell were arising faster and faster. But good try, Kairi, good try."
"Eh," Kairi blinked, having no idea who the 'he' might be. "Right. Thanks, Master Rikku." Sitting back down onto her cloud, glaring heatedly at the brunette on the other side of Sora, she rubbed at her sore arm. "That hurts."
"I know." Selphie grinned. "I spent a whole year learning how to pinch effectively."
"Do I want to know why you spent all that time doing that?" Sora asked, cringing slightly.
"Well, how else am I gonna get Kairi to admit that I'm right and she's wrong?"
"Leave me alone, Selphie. You're crazy. I don't deal with crazy people."
"Fine. We'll ask Sora's opinion." Turning to the confused male between them, Selphie pinned him with her eyes. "Do you like someone?"
"Like someone?" Sora repeated, cocking his head to one side. "Sure. I like you two, even though you're crazy. And Master Cloud. And Master Leon. And Master Rikku. And Tohru and Jeaves and..."
Kairi started snorting as Selphie scowled. "No, Sora. I mean like someone. Like, you know? Like like someone?"
"I don't...eh?" Blue eyes widened and cheeks flushed as he realized what Selphie meant. "Like like?"
Selphie snickered. "I adore you, Sora."
"This only proves your insanity." Kairi pointed out, staring at her best friend's red face. She frowned, as she remembered that Sora's face had been cherry red when she'd found him with Sakis before too.
But then, that didn't have to mean anything. Out of everyone in Heaven, Sora was the easiest to fluster. Even more so than first year Trainees.
"Of course not!" Sora pouted, cheeks flaming red. "What gave you that idea?"
"Ahem," Selphie grinned, as she turned green eyes over to violet. "Sora and Sakis sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G..."
"That was a fluke. And we weren't on a tree!" Burying his face in his hands, their friend desperately shook his head. "Ick! No! Of course not! You two are wrong. Wrong, I tell you."
"See?" Selphie smirked, as they watch Sora hurrying back to where their Master was still rambling. "Didn't I tell you that there was a one hundred percent?"
"Sora's flustered half the time he's in the Academy. What'd that prove?"
"Tell that to my trump card," Selphie grinned, as she pointed to their friend below them. Sora, unaware of the careful scrutiny, thumped his fists into his nest of hair, as he tried in vain to get the blood to flow out of his head, before resorting back to pulling out his hair. "Have you ever seen Sora do that?"
"I'm sure we must have, at some point or other."
"Kai, I love you for your stubborn tendencies. But give up." Selphie grinned, green eyes sparkling. She had Kairi and she knew it. "Besides, we all know you adore Sora as much as...everyone else in the Academy, so don't even think of denying it."
Kairi sighed, as she turned violet eyes onto her best friend in the entire Kingdom. She did love Sora. There really was no denying that.
"But that only proves that I'm as insane as the rest of you."
---
Cloud briefly wondered if maybe this was some sort of sign.
Blue eyes nearly rolled into the back of his head as a miniature willow flew across the room and whacked him right in the middle between his brows. Tears rolled out of his eyes of their own volition and Cloud swore three lark spirits were tweeting the mortal song of Take-Me-Out-To-The-Ball-Game. Throwing one arm out to his head, he rubbed it briefly as he willed the lump to go away.
Really. It's as though he was cursed. This entire week had seemed to be a bit off. First, he'd woken up that morning to find that he'd somehow sleepwalked over to Leon's quarters again. Then, not only does Leon not understand, the idiotic Training Master actually called Cloud out, saying that he needed to work on the Trainees and didn't have time for Cloud and his clinginess.
Really. How mean was that? Cloud thought he had broken Leon his habit of speaking without thinking of other's first.
Now, to make matters worst, his entire first year class had decided that all they've learned the past few weeks was hogwash. Groaning, the desire to just throw his head into his arms and will all his problems away, Cloud watched at the cause of all his present problems.
Sakis stood in the middle of the class, waving his arms around frantically, creating even more currents in the air in his attempt to stop everything from moving. Pots of plants flew everywhere, their guardian spirits escaping from their hosts in their attempt to run from complete disaster. Trainees dodged this way and that, occasionally ramming into everyone else as they attempted to avoid those waves that Sakis was putting out.
Really, it was almost impressive, the amount of power he had.
"OK, OK," he bellowed finally. His arms flashed as he threw out an arm. Reaching into his pool of magic, he pulled with his powers, until all of Sakis' powers were captured into the tiny ball above his palm. Flicking it with his hands, he threw it into his now silent student. "Alright," he said, blowing his bangs out of his eyes. "Can all of you resume your seats?" he asked.
Plants and pots started floating around the room, returning to their original places, before Sakis decided to wreck havoc into the room. Spirits, seeing that everything was calming down, fluttered back into their healed hosts and stretched back to their most comfortable positions.
"Alright Sakis," Cloud sighed, ruffling his own blond hair. "So. Why didn't you just tell me you're having problems with this spell?"
"Uhm," his student winced a little as he ruffled his own diamond locks. "Because..."
Cloud sighed. In all his years of Teaching, he'd never seen a Trainee who could mess up a spell as simple as the Green Man's Touch as Sakis did. Cloud fluttered over to the Trainee, who was still staring at him with those wide green eyes and gently patted his head. "OK, don't worry about it. We'll just have to find a way to help you understand the fundamental basics of Healing."
---
After that deliciously fun lesson with Cloud, the class had received an announcement that all Trainees were to report to the Meadow. Not one to miss an opportunity, Riku had followed the rest of his schoolmates over to the vast fields of green.
Blinking, aquamarine eyes widen slightly as he took in the assembly of angels before him. The huge array of angel Trainees milled around the Meadow, clustering together here and there, as they joined one group of friends and another. Humming slightly to himself, Riku scanned the area, looking for his favorite brunette.
"Sakis!" someone called out. Feathers fluttered everywhere, as a blue-haired teen landed directly before the devil in disguise. "Hey! So, do you know what's going on?"
"Hey Devin, no clue." Shrugging slightly, emerald eyes lit, as they caught sight of familiar cinnamon strands that just made its way over to the field. "Sora." Grinning, he waved goodbye to Devin, as he made his way over to the other angel.
"Arrgh and he comes." Sapphire eyes sulked, as Sora's lower lips jutted out.
"Your continuous dislike of me really hurts you know. Sniff."
Determined to keep his pout, Sora rolled his eyes slightly, as he crossed his arms around himself. "You shouldn't say sniff. You should...sniff." As if to prove his point, Sora sniffed twice, turning his nose towards the air to demonstrate.
Laughing, the teen slung an arm around the other, as he slapped a hand over his heart. "Thank you, oh wise one, for your sagely advice. I'll keep it in my heart for all eternity."
"You should!" Grinning, Riku watched Sora wave as Selphie and Kairi landed before the two. A single brow rose, as he caught sight of Selphie's giggling and nudging. "It could get you out of trouble one of these days, you know!"
"Selph, my ribs are gonna crack if you nudge me anymore," Kairi sighed, furrowing her brows in annoyance.
"Hrmph! You party pooper."
"So, do my all-knowing seniors know why we're called here?" Riku asked, shrugging a little as Sora escaped his clutches.
"Eh? Oh yea! I forgot! Haha, it's your first year, Sakis!" Grinning, Selphie pointed to the center of the fields. "Don't worry, you'll find out soon enough!"
As if on cue, the sudden boom that rang through the fields had Riku jumping back, swirling around, and already searching for the unknown enemy. A single brow rose as he watched the gigantic tree spirit at the center of the field opened up to reveal four of their training Masters. Rolling his eyes a little, he scowled at Selphie good-naturally, as she laughed.
"Trainees!" a gentle voice recognized as Serim's, the Master of Mortal Culture, called out, spreading throughout the wind spirits to reach the ears of each Trainee. "The time has come again for our Certamen Mortalitas."
Riku turned to Selphie. "Certamen Mortalitas?"
"A competition," Selphie said, jumping in slight intervals. "Oh man! I hope I win this year!"
"As all returning Trainees know, the Certamen is a competition of a group of Trainees from numerous levels and year." Master Serim smiled slightly, hazel eyes turning to her students as she pointed at the three Masters behind her. "Each of us, Training Masters, will supervise a specific group."
"Oh my gosh," Selphie cried, eyes jumping with excitement as she turned to Kairi. Poking her friend incessantly, she squealed, "Tell me, Kai. Master Serim's in charge this year right? Right?"
"Yes. Stop poking me."
"I bruise easily," Sora whispered, in time with his redhead friend. Chuckling together, the three clamped a hand over their mouth as the Master Serim turned a bland eye over to them.
Riku blinked, shaking his head a little as the training Master continued. "The rules are simple. You'll be judged by a total of ten judges, comprised of the training Masters in the Academy—the Master for your group is not allowed to judge you. Remember that you are judged based on your creativity and artistic inspiration—along with your basic knowledge of spells, potions work, and runes work. Not to mention, your teamwork, of course."
"Oh boy! Oh boy! Oh boy!"
"Selphie, I will kick you if you don't hush!"
"You guys...I think Master Leon's glaring now."
Serim smiled. "Work hard everyone. I'm sure, as some of you guessed, the winners this year will have the chance to visit the human realm."
---
"O-kay!" Selphie punched an arm into the air, floating the cloud she stood on a little higher. "With our team finalized and Master Cloud ready to help us to victory, the 'Definite Plan to Get Everyone's Attention Including Judges for the Certamens And Get Us That Trip To The Mortal Realms' will now commence!"
"The...the—the what?" Sora frowned, raising his brows in disbelief. He turned to Kairi. "What?"
"Just...the 'Definite Plan'." Kairi rolled her eyes a little, as she patted the brunette's arm. "Trust Selph to make up an insanely long name."
Riku chuckled a little, leaning back on his cloud. To be honest, he could get use to these fluffy things, not to say anything against his favorite satin. "Hey, I thought it was kinda creative."
"Shut up, Sakis," Kairi rolled those twin violets again. "She doesn't need an ego boost."
"Anyway, evil whispering friends who conspire behind my back not withstanding," Glaring at said friends, Selphie planted two hands onto her waist as she regarded the rest of the Trainees assembled in the room. "Since you all oh-so-wonderfully elected me as your leader this year...does anyone have any ideas?"
"Adventure park?" someone called out.
"How is that a form of art?" someone else snickered.
"Well, you need to decorate your rides."
"Oookay, I don't think the Masters were exactly looking for machinery decorations, when they asked for artistic inspiration."
"Alright people," Selphie interrupted before an argument could break out. Waving an arm at the Trainee, her chocolate locks waved slightly as she shook her head vehemently. "No offense but, too common. Annnnnd, I heard Master Leon's group doing something like that so we gotta jet and think of something cooler."
"When did you find the time to hear that?"
Selphie grinned. "That, my dear Sora, is a secret I'm keeping even from you." Rounding back on everyone, a brow rose. "Any other suggestions?"
"A form of art entertainment?" someone joked.
"No gee whiz," Selphie rolled her eyes, pouting slightly. "Are you guys seriously telling me that there are no suggestions?"
"...A play."
Everyone turned at that. Looking over at the quiet blond sitting somewhere in the second row, Sora raised a brow as he recognized Demyx, quietly fingering his sitar, fingers flying over the strings silently.
"A...play?" Selphie repeated. "Those shows humans have where they pretend to be someone they're not?"
"Sure, why not." Shrugging a little, he looked up at their hesitant leader. "You could do tons with a play."
"Hm." Nodding a little to herself, Kairi looked up at Selphie. "I agree. If you do it properly, you can have everything in a play."
Pursing her lips slightly, the white-clad leader settled onto her cloud, as she turned the thought over. "Like what, exactly?"
"Well, I know you have to have scenery," Kairi shrugged. "And, I'm guessing...costumes? They need to be creative."
"Music," someone else shouted. "I know the humans have music. We can do something about that too!"
"Well, there are special effects too." Everyone turned to look at Riku. "You know, explosion, lighting, and stuff like that to make things look cool."
"And," Everyone turned to Demyx. "We still need to have a script and a story, you know."
Selphie grinned. "Well then, is everyone agreed on this play idea then?" Eyes lighting when she noted the expanded wings, she laughed. "Alrighty my friends, motion passed! Play it is!"
---
Riku sighed. Ah, what a dilemma.
Twirling a strand of hair idly as he floated past another cloud, he closed his eyes from the glare of the sun. Mind churning a mile a minute, he considered his present predicament.
"A trip to the human realm...huh." Sighing, his frown turning deeper, he turned onto his stomach as he stared at the activity below him. The entire Academy was in an uproar over this competition. Every Trainee was dying to experience their first time in the famed human realm, having forgotten everything in their past lives the moment they passed through the Gates.
Damned if Riku was going back to the human realm, for a total of three whole months. Sure they were interesting creatures—after all, humans are easy to manipulate; and the ones that weren't, well they were fun too—but it doesn't change the fact that they were what every Devil Trainee go through to become a full fledge Devil.
And, since Riku was no average Trainee, why should he contend himself with only the human realm?
But, Hell, these goody-goodies were making him actually work for his job. With this whole Certamen thing going, it'll be problematic if he's shipped back to the mortal realm on a fluke.
Three months, damn it! Do they have any idea how much trouble he could have caused by then?
"We're gonna win."
Blinking out of his thoughts, the devil in disguise grinned when he caught sight of his favorite angel. "Oh yea? Well, confidence's a good thing."
"Yes. And you're gonna do your best to help us win, right?" Smiling sweetly, sapphire eyes turned onto green as he leaned close.
"Hey, I thought you said Angels don't jump into people's minds."
"We don't!"
"Well then," Riku grinned, reaching up quickly to yank the angel from the air and onto his lap. "What are you gonna do when I have all these naughty thoughts?" He purred, running a hand up the cinnamon immortal's sides.
"W-what are you doing? Let me go! Are you trying to change the subject?" Blushing profusely, Sora broke free of the devil. "I'm just here to tell you that Master Cloud said we're going to have a meeting tomorrow. We need to make up crews and stuff—who does what. And stuff."
"Mm…and you volunteered to come to me?" Riku asked, smirking slightly as those sinfully hypnotic eyes caught Sora's own.
"D-don't...Are you trying to read my mind!" Sora frowned, lower lip jutting out slightly.
"Never! We have to follow the Code, right?" Leaning forward, silver bangs curtained those calling emeralds slightly, as he brushed his forehead against Sora's. A single hand reached to stroke the soft skin below Sora's ear, gentle pressure slowly bringing the angel closer with each breath.
Sora blinked.
"YES!" he said, throwing his arms out. Without thinking, he unleashed his wings, not caring that it's going to be tangled in Riku's arms. "Follow it! A-And Selphie wanted me to tell you that we're having a meeting at the library tonight to get a head start on ideas! That's it! Bye!"
Riku chuckled as he watched the smaller Trainee flee. Grinning as he realized the answer to all his problems, he breathed a little and settled back into his original position.
Really. It might even be fun to win this thing.
---
Sora slammed the door to his room, eyes wide, face burning, with his heart ready to pop out of his chest. Sliding soundlessly onto the ground, he lowered his head between his legs as he willed the blood to drain out of his brain.
"O-okay. Sora, calm down." Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out. In. Out.
It's official. Riku was a very sneaky devil. That's okay though, because Sora knew that from before. Clapping his hands against his flushed cheeks, he blinked as he tried to will away the image of the half-lidded Trainee leaning so, so close to Sora. After all, he'd bet his own wings that it was just another tactic to cause him trouble.
Yea. That's it. A tactic.
"So...so I should calm down." Nodding to himself, Sora punched his chest slightly. "You hear that, heart? Calm down."
"But, Sora, what's there to be calm about? Isn't it fun to rendezvous with your beau?" a squeaky, high-pitched voice asked.
Blue eyes widened. "H-huuuh!"
"Don't you 'huh' me, mister!" another voice piped up. "You can't fool us! We're your heart and your conscious and we know everything."
"I don't!" Sora cried, shaking his head vehemently. "No! I don't! I don't! There's no way I like him!"
"But Sora...you love those kisses from Sakis-channnn don't you?"
"I don't—Sakis-chan?" Sora frowned. Raising his head, he looked around his room. "Kairi? Selphie?"
"Who are these Kairi and Selphie you speak of?"
"Come out you two."
Twin sets of wings appeared from the air, unfurling to reveal Sora's two best friends. "Hi Sora," Selphie grinned.
"You two..."
"So!" Selphie said, waving her arms slightly. "Where were you, Sora? With our favorite first year?"
"Eh? Ahm, I—don't...!" Sora frowned, blushing.
"Awww, how cute. Sora-chan is blushing! Did you two kiss again?"
"N-no! We didn't!"
Kairi cocked her head. "You mean, you're this upset, because you guys didn't kiss?"
"Who says I'm upset? I'm relieved. Relieved, I tell you." Frowning slightly, face turned a deeper shade of red as his two friends merely stared. "And we didn't kiss."
"Sora, Sora," Shaking her head, Selphie frowned as she reached over to clasp her friend's arm. "I understand that denial's the whole first step and all but, really. Aren't you being just a little too cliché?"
"Hey! You're the romantic! I thought you like the whole cliché and happily ever after thing!"
"Sure she does," Kairi said. "When it's convenient."
"Hey, are you saying I'm a hypocrite!"
"Did anyone say you're a hypocrite?"
"Are you implying—"
"Are we still talking about me here?" Sora asked, sighing as he plopped down onto his bed.
"Good job, Sora! Knowing you need help is the second step! The first step is to recognize that you have a problem!"
"Selphie, you've been reading too much about mortal culture," Kairi said. Walking over to Sora's desk, she flipped through a few pages of her friend's book. Frowning, her brows drew together as she saw the doodles on one of Sora's pages.
"I don't—I'm fine." Pouting, thumping a hand against his heart once more, he closed his eyes against his best friends.
"You said that before," Kairi pointed, poking a finger at the air. "And then you went and started talking to your 'heart' and 'head'. Try and tell me that's fine."
"Because someone was playing as my—"
"But, anyway." Rolling her eyes, Kairi grabbed onto her friend's scrolls and planted them before her friend. "Tell me, oh dear fine friend of mine, since when did you become an addict on Hellion History?"
Blinking, face paling as he recognized his research on Devils and their evil deeds, Sora jolted out of bed, quickly grabbing at the sheets of papers. "Kairi!" he yelled when she merely shifted them out of reach.
"Sora!" she taunted, waving the papers slightly. Growling a little to himself, the little brunette suddenly launched himself onto his best friend, tackling her onto the bed.
"Ooo...did we start on the brainstorming already?" Poking his head through the door, Riku smirked when he noted Sora's position on the bed. He was practically straddling Kairi, reaching desperately for that piece of paper. "Hey, kinky. Can I join?"
"No." Blushing, clear blue eyes averted, Sora quickly jumped off his friend, pouting since she still held his painstaking research.
"No...to the brainstorming?" A whisper and the gorgeous Trainee was next to his adorable counterpart. "Or to me joining you?"
"Both...but more to the idea of you joining—actually, we weren't doing anything!"
"Delayed reaction much?" Selphie laughed as she, too, joined them on Sora's bed. Smirking slightly, pulling Kairi a little off from Sora, she peered into the piece of paper.
"Seriously, what's with the Devil research?" Kairi asked, putting the paper out for all of them to see. "Sora?" she prompted as Sora gurgled.
"Ohh..." Everyone turned to look at Riku as he nodded in understanding. Sora's mouth fell open a little, as he started to laugh. Riku was laughing! That stupid Devil—who was the cause to Sora's current pains—was laughing! "Huh. So that was what you were thinking," he said, smirking slightly.
OhmyGod. OhmyGod.
"Sora? Sora! Breath!"
God, please let him read my thoughts! Staring intently at the laughing Trainee, demanding that he notice his brain vibes he choked as he suddenly felt a gigantic smack against his back.
"OW!" he cried, falling forward against his bed. Turning to glare at Selphie, who was staring at her own hand in confusion, he scowled. "Selphie!"
"Huh, they said it was supposed to work," she said, waving another karate chop against the air.
"Too much mortal studies," Kairi rolled her eyes, slapping her friend's hand a little.
"Hm, well," Riku grinned. "As I was saying."
Damn it, the one time I demand you to read my mind—
"I think it'd be an interesting idea, actually."
Sora froze.
"Huh?"
Riku coughed, hiding his grin as Sora stared at him in that adorably confused way that just made Riku want to...arrgh. One of these days. "I said, I think it'd be an interesting idea."
"Ah, what would that be...exactly?" Kairi frowned, staring between the two Trainees. "Sora?"
"Ya know," Riku pointed at the paper. "Use Hellion History as an enactment for the Certamen Mortalitas."
"...Huh." Even Selphie raised a brow at this proposition. Kairi frowned again, those thin strokes of red drawing together as she contemplated the idea. "Huh," she repeated, drawing a finger up. "It's certainly original."
"Never been done before," Selphie agreed.
"Bound to shock the judges," Riku grinned.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait!"
"But which part of Hellion History?" Selphie asked, completely ignoring the other brunette. "They have a giganto long history, ya know. Devils are busy little creatures."
"Well, what do you know?"
Kairi hummed quietly, tapping consistently against her elbow. "Well, either way, Sora's research's not gonna be enough—we need more facts. Maybe, we can even make our own play or something—you know, based on an event."
"In the view of the Devils?"
"No," Riku shook his head a little. Grinning, his eyes sparkled as he leaned towards the other three Trainees. "We're talking about the Certamens Mortalitas, right? Mortals should still be a theme—how about in the views of the humans?"
"Huuh."
Major palpitations. Massive choking. Any second now, Sora will die from a heart attack. Except, Angels don't get heart attacks—and he can't die because, technically, he's already dead.
"Guys..."
Riku grinned, looking over to Selphie. "I volunteer Sora as writer."
"Huh? N-no—!"
"Don't worry, I'll help."
"No!"
"Don't be shy," Selphie smirked, looking over to the silver haired immortal knowingly. She patted her friend. "It's okay."
"Wait a second, you guys—"
"I have faith in you."
Staring helplessly at Kairi, he sighed. "Not you too, Kai."
Riku reached over a little and slung an arm around the pouting Trainee. "Go, go super Sora?"
Remember to be firm. To be assertive. To be absolutely unbendable. If you've got at least two out of the three criteria, you'll most likely be able to win...
Nauticaa you liar. Pouting, recognizing a hopeless situation when he saw one, Sora glared. What did he mean, two out of three? How was anyone supposed to remain firm and assertive, when dealing with someone like Riku?
---
It was nearly dusk. The sun was this close to dying out when Cloud opened the door to his chambers. Sighing, exhausted after the classes and, particularly, the nearly excruciating meeting where Selphie had almost driven him insane, he released his long-held breath, blowing the golden bangs from his face.
"Strife."
Cloud blinked. There, sitting on his favorite couch was Leon. That familiar tingle snuck up his spine, shivering in delight against the gruff baritone that slipped through the air. "Leon. What are you doing here?"
"Strife, we need to talk."
Blinking, baby blue eyes wide, the Healing Master frowned.
"Don't tell me...are you breaking up with me?"
---
"How did I get stuck writing the story anyway?" Sora later muttered, glaring at the piles of notes before him. Sitting back, rolling his aching shoulders, he sighed as he threw the feather quill onto the paper.
It was night already. The last ray of sunshine had vanished into the far off distance, ready to bless another part of the universe, and still Sora was here on this same chair, alone in the library. He just didn't understand how it was that Riku always managed to trap him in these things!
"Awww," he sighed, ashamed of the fact that he's thinking such negative thoughts. But really! Here it is, a perfectly normal, perfectly untainted competition—a tradition in the Angel Academy, no less—with a team that's going to enter a theme of HELLION CREATURES.
HIS influences. Sora'll stake his life on it. It was all his influences. Never mind that, when he thought deeper about it, it was actually an interesting idea. Never mind that, more still, Riku had actually helped Sora out of a jam—though, his real motives were still unclear. It still doesn't change the fact that, when it comes down to it, he just can't trust that Devil.
He'll make life in Heaven Hell. It was something he planned on doing.
Again, Sora'll stake his life on it.
"So why isn't he doing anything?"
It would have been so much simpler if Riku and all his evil Devil-ness would just start creating the havoc that he promised. After all, Sora was prepared for any...missing Trainees, or changed relics, or damaged property. But noooo. No matter how hard he looked, how far he followed Riku, there's just no sign of any major problems!
How was Sora supposed to fight back when Riku wasn't attacking?
"I see steam," a soft voice sang. Two small hands reached over his eyes, covering them for a precious few seconds. "Don't think too hard but...guess who?"
"Hi Selph."
Giggling, the girl released her friend and settled onto the seat across from him. "Okay, you got me."
Sora sighed.
"Still no go?" she asked, planting her elbows onto the made-shift desk.
"Selphie, steam."
"Right." Laughing a little, she turned her deep green eyes onto her friend. Frowning, because that particular shade reminded Sora a little too much of Riku, he quickly turned his mind back onto his task at hand. "How about making it a love story?"
Sora choked.
"W-what?"
"The play, Sora. Puh-lay." Laughing a little to herself, she smirked as she added, "What were you thinking of?"
"Har, har. Stop corrupting my mind, Selphie." Glaring at his friend a little, Sora pouted before sticking his head back behind the scroll. "And I can't even think of an idea, much less a love story."
"Well, what do you have so far?"
Looking down at his notes, Sora coughed as he regarded the little moon crescent with a sleep bubble, a stick figure with horns being stepped on by another stick figure wielding a halo, and the numerous cross-outs over sentences that were barely legible.
"The."
Selphie frowned. "The? The...what?"
"The." Pointing at his papers, he poked at the page once, before resorting to banging his head. "That's what I have. The."
"Well." Chuckling, not able to help but note that her friend was just so darn adorable when he's frustrated, she reached over and patted his spikey head. "That's an improvement. It's better than a whole page full of nothing but doodles of Sakis...Sakis...'my darling, darling Sakis'..." Selphie laughed as Sora threw a paper ball at her. "And on that note," she said, grabbing the piece of paper off the ground. "I'm off."
"Huh? Wait, help me Selph!"
Shaking her head a little, winking at her distressed friend, she flew out of the room just as the door opened again. "S'ok, So-chan. Inspiration has arrived."
"Wait a minute, I don't—" Sora froze, blinking a little as his little angelic antennae picked up the new presence in the room. "Sel-phie."
But by that time, his friend was gone.
"Heh, I like her," Riku said, taking the newly vacated seat. He grinned at Sora, purposefully ignoring the pout. "What? No welcome kiss?"
"I'm this close to pulling my hair out, I'm so stressed." Looking over at the other Trainee, blue eyes glittering dangerously, Sora let out an almost wolfish grin as he regarded Riku. "Thanks so much for the opportunity to wring your neck."
"Wow." Rather than being scared by that nearly manic look in Sora's eyes, Riku smirked. "A threat. On my life. I must be influencing you."
"Graaarrrgh, please go back to Hell."
"And now he's resorted to begging."
Banging his head against his desk again, Sora closed his eyes and attempted to pull his own brain out by his ear. He'd been ready to bang that forehead against that fluffy surface again when, suddenly, two arms reached out to pull him from his sitting position.
Drawing Sora softly into his arms, Riku wrapped those arms around his waist, preventing him from going near the desk again.
"No need to mess up that cute face of yours just because you can't write, Angel."
"I don't like you," Sora pouted, attempting to pry those arms off him.
"So you've said." Riku murmured. Running a hand up Sora's sides, the other slid quietly under the white silk. "Here, how 'bout I help inspire you on this play?"
"W-what are you doing?"
"Continuing where we left off last time." Squeaking a little, Sora blushed as he felt those fingers slid over his stomach, evoking a whole barrage of sensation.
"W-wait a second! I...n-no."
"No?" A murmur, lips barely brushed against the soft skin of Sora's neck. Riku turned a single eye over to his blushing Angel. "Are you sure, no?"
"It's not allowed, okay?" Shaking his head a little to get the last of the mood out of his head, Sora glared at the offending arm around him. "Can you please let me go now?"
Sighing, deciding to let his play end for the night, Riku opened his arms to let the little Trainee fly out. Suddenly, he grinned. "So, are you saying that if it is allowed, then you would want to?"
"N-no!" Flushing again, Sora frowned and pushed a stack of papers between Riku and himself. Just in case. "No!"
"Hmmm..." Smirking slightly, Riku rested a hand onto the table as he regarded the other Trainee. "Are you sure?"
"This conversation is pointless." Pouting slightly, he sighed as he turned to his papers for the hundredth time that night. "I want to get past the first word, 'the', by the end of this night, if you don't mind."
"I find that the word 'plot' might be a good choice for a second."
Glaring, not even bothering to reply, he merely turned back onto his notes. After a few moments of silence, where upon he wrote gibberish as Riku watched him, he looked up at the Devil again. "Yes?"
Riku shrugged. "I like looking at you."
"Well, that's wonderful. But I don't like you looking at me, so, if you don't mind." He pointed at the door.
"We now move on to subtle—and biting—insults. Definitely my influence."
Sora nearly screamed.
"You do that a lot."
"...What?"
"Alternate between liking me and hating my guts out."
"I do not like you."
Riku shrugged. "You've said that."
"But I don't!"
Grinning a little, delighting in the frustrated pout, Riku pointed at the page. "Okay, babe. Write before your brain fries." Reading more of the material, his brow rose suddenly as he noticed one page full of neat, tiny cursive.
"What's the Trojan Wars?"
Sora blinked, having lost his staring contest with his nearly blank page of "The Plot."
"What?"
Riku pointed at a paper. "Trojan War. What is it?"
"Ancient war between two human races." Sora shrugged. "We have actual records of it—but the humans seem to think it's a myth."
"Huh." Scanning the pages quickly, he frowned. "And this...Paopu?"
"Eh?" Taking the papers from Riku, Sora looked through it quickly before understanding dawned him. "Oh, yea. I forgot. A myth."
"A myth?"
"Yea." Shrugging a little, the angel Trainee turned back to his paper. "You know, something that's not real."
"Thanks for the enlightenment, genius." Rolling his eyes, Riku shoved the stack of papers over to Sora. "So how about this for your story?" Receiving a confused stare from the other, he elaborated. "You know, the Trojan Wars and this Paopu. Sounds interesting."
"But...it's a myth."
"But...all myths stem from facts."
Sora frowned. "I found the data a million years ago, though. No, not literally." Pursing his lips a little, biting the bottom lip, he quickly scanned the rest of the notes.
"C'mon, where else are you going to get better materials?"
Humming a little, eyes filled with suspicion, Sora regarded the devil before him. "You know I don't trust you, right? What are you planning?"
Grinning, not even bothering to hide his amusement, Riku reached over to gently tap the other's nose. "You know, I really might be a little hurt. Can't a Devil be helpful every once in a while?"
Looking over at the other immortal, Sora sighed. "I don't understand why you're not acting like the evil Devil that you are."
Riku grinned. Standing, stretching his back as a night wind snuck its way into the room, he spread those shimmering white wings.
"I thought you knew by now, So-ra. I'm not an ordinary Devil."
End Chapter
Author's Corner
And the story moves along.
Ah, well. Here's a long overdue update. Honestly, I didn't intend that it'd be a year before I update again. I really didn't think I was this much of a procrastinator. Well, sorry for those who waited so long.
I was, however, surprised by the turnout for this fic. Thanks a bunch for your support guys! Your reviews rocked! Believe me, it was the only reason I got off my lazy bum...x)
All your theories and predictions were creative, to say the least. However, to find out what really happens next, you'll just have to continue reading. ;D
And to the very interesting offer for the input of a new OC. Sorry, but I don't generally put original characters in as a major character. A random mention, maybe, but no real interactions and certainly no role. Again, sorry.
Next Chapter
Chapter 02: Romeo, oh Romeo—Where art thou,
Romeo?
Kairi: Selphie is insane. What was she thinking, casting Sakis that role? And what was SAKIS thinking, accepting? Do they not realize how many Trainees are going to nosebleed over this? Hrm? Wait—NO Sora, that's not sugar! No, really, it's not! I DON'T CARE IF HE'S SWEET, YOU CAN'T LICK HIM! SORA!
End
Thanks so much for reading everyone! Please remember to review!
Lots of greets,
Yukisora
Edited by: Wake-Robin
Last Checked: June 30, 2006