chapter three, chapter three….
Summary: When a disgruntled Sora lets his parents sign him up for a summer climbing camp, he's less than enthusiastic. But with some interesting new friends, crazy counselors, and a handsome, infuriating boy to deal with, this week might be more interesting than he thought...SoraxRiku, AxelxRoxas, AU.
Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts, and it's ever so heartbreaking. Feeling a pout coming on.
Author's Note: You know, I didn't really like Riku in the first game. I know, I know, but it's the awful truth….I was a sora/kairi shipper.
–screams- -dodges sharp objects- -runs and hides-
BUT after some heavy rehab and seeing Riku and Sora's reunion on KHII (winkwink) I have turned over a new leaf. A much cuter, slashier leaf. Which brings me to my point: This fic contains slash. If you haven't reformed like me, you might want to stop reading this and go…do something about that. Yeah.
Reviewers:
MyHiddenStory: First cupcakes, now cake? You're making me hungry. But I am super happy that I have been the recipient of one of your chocolate cakes. If only it wasn't virtual…
AngelStarFire Hikarist II: First of all,awesome name. I did notice the smoking thing…and the fact that I made someone's favorites list made me do a little happy dance. It was very exciting, let me tell you.
RyukoGirl: That review was just ASKING for a mention up here. And Riku is totally an asshole in a good kind of way, and I'm really excited that someone out there is just as much of a spaz as Axel and me when I've had too much sugar. YAY!
ChaosDreamer: Unfortunately, Riku's going to be a snob for a pretty decent amount of time. But who doesn't love Riku attempting to be aloof? But he'll come around…how can he resist Sora? He knows he can't. He's Riku.
Anyway: here's part one of day two, and part two will be up very soon, depending on how quickly I can dig myself out of this pile of homework I have to do….
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The next day started too bright and much too early for Sora. His happy-go-lucky, carefree attitude at the campfire had started to fade away, and now he was just sorely missing the days when he would wake up, sleepy and content, at ten past noon. Seven o'clock…what were these people thinking?
Then again, his fatigue could have something to do with the fact that he hadn't been able to fall asleep after the campfire. Too high on excitement and the marshmallows they had toasted after the songs, he and Roxas had talked for awhile about stupid stuff; their parents, school, what colleges they were going to in the fall, exactly how much partying they planned to do once they got there. But even when the other boy gradually fell silent and Sora lay alone, staring at the ceiling, he couldn't seem to settle his restless mind and fall asleep.
This camp experience had already proved to be much different than he had expected. He had never dreamed that he would have been hanging around with friendly, popular people like Roxas and Hayner, or that he had stepped right into the middle of what appeared to be a bitter camp rivalry. The boy with the strange eyes, Riku….Sora couldn't imagine what he had done to make Roxas' ice blue eyes narrow with so much hated, but all he knew was that he didn't want to get caught in the middle. Still….the other boy had been staring at him…
Now, coming out of the breakfast hall (his stomach full of pancakes and syrup) he rubbed the sleep from his eyes and tried to banish the thoughts from his mind. He was here to have fun, and to tackle a few rock walls. Period.
He meandered sleepily through the chatting throngs of teenagers and wound up next to Roxas, Kairi, who were chatting about group assignments, and Hayner, who was glaring off into the distance. Defiantly not a morning person.
It seemed as if the entire camp was sitting, kneeling, or lying down in the grassy valley, clustered expectantly around the grassy boulder that served as the meeting point. Every face was tipped toward the distant clump of counselors, who were, to Sora's relief, dressed in normal clothes again.
"Wonder what group we get this year?" Roxas muttered under his breath, kicking a pebble idly at Hayner.
"I dunno. But we'll be in the same one. It's just a matter of who else is…." Hayner said darkly.
But they had no further time to ponder that, because all eyes had swiveled to watch Janet effortlessly pull herself up the imposing boulder and stand on its lip, waiting for silence, which fell astoundingly quickly.
"Good morning," she said, simpering. "Everyone ready to find out who they spend the next week with?"
Half-hearted laughter all around.
"I'll skip the formalities. Let's get started. Staying here at camp, in the Badgers…" She rattled off a list of names, and Sora, listening intently, breathed a sign of relief as he heard none of his friend's names. He couldn't imagine what he would do they were separated, and he had to try this whole 'making friends' thing all over again.
"And that's the Otters. Next, the Falcons, leaving on a trip to northern Maine and the White Mountains, we have Roxas, Hayner, Sora, Riku, Axel, and the only female courageous enough to brave this amount of testosterone, Kairi. You'll be with Alysa and Doug, so hurry up over there."
"At least we're not bananas anymore," Sora whispered to Roxas, but then his mind screeched to a halt. Wait. Waitwaitwait. Did she just call stalker-boy's name?
Roxas' eyes had narrowed almost imperceptibly, and he didn't respond as he joined Kairi and Hayner in walking across the long stretch of field to where their two counselors were waiting for them. Sora hurried to keep up, his mind working frantically. This can't be good.
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Their two counselors, a woman and a man, led them a little way from the main group to the border of the expansive woods. The girl took a seat on the nearest stump, crossing her legs and surveying them all with a little half-smile that Sora couldn't peg as being sarcastic or sincere. She was brunette, with a few freckles and large blue eyes.
Her co-counselor moved to stand behind her, and with a shock of recognition, Sora discovered that his other counselor was the wiry-haired man who had played guitar the night before, at the campfire.
At the campfire. Sora ran a hand through his messy spikes and shot a nervous look to his left, where Riku and Axel were sidling into the group, smugness written all over their faces. Sora hurriedly looked away before those aquamarine eyes could settle on him again.
When they had all settled, with much arm-crossing and glares across the circle, the woman spoke from her perch on the log.
"Hiya. I'm Alysa, and as the crazy woman on the rock announced, I am your new counselor. Note how I said counselor, not babysitter. Far as I'm concerned, my job is simply to stop you from killing yourselves, because then the camp would get all hot and bothered about liability and damages and that would make my life, in turn, pretty crappy."
Seeing the incredulous looks around her, she smiled; a nice smile. "Aww, don't worry, kiddos. We'll like each other, I think. And if not, there's always corporal punishment."
"Alysa!" The other counselor said reproachfully.
"What?" she said innocently. "They're almost all grown up. They don't want to hear about our goals for the summer and how we're going to make such a kickass team. Though how 'bout our name?" She said, turning back to them with eager eyes. "The Falcons isn't bad. Last year I was in charge of the Mongooses, and let me tell you….."
"Ignore her," the other counselor said hurriedly. "I'm Doug, and I'm your other counselor. And the whole point of this trip is to get to know one another better, so I think we shouldn't just blatantly ignore all the camp mottos…."
"Mottos, pshaw. Though if you insist on playing the touchy-feely counselor role, I promise not to let the kids make fun of you too much. Right, kiddos?" She said, swiveling back to face her six charges, all of whom were looking at her with rather stunned expressions on their faces.
"How about a getting to know you game?" Doug said, trying his best to pretend his co-counselor hadn't just spoken.
"Awesome idea, Doug! Let's play a name game…" Alysa said, and there was an evil glitter in her eye.
"All right," the man said, eyeing her warily. "Do you know any good ones?"
"Let's play the one where you say the name and something about you."
"Like what?"
"Boxers or briefs?"
"No."
"Favorite swear word?"
"No!"
"Best rum drink?"
"NO!"
"Fine," Alysa said, looking not at all fazed. "I've got one you can't possibly turn down. Favorite holiday and why."
Doug eyed her suspiciously for a moment, clearly seeking the hidden clause. "That's it?"
"What, don't you trust me?"
"Fine," Doug grumbled. "If you'll be quiet. And afterward, I get to choose the game."
"Deal," Alysa said, and turned to Roxas, who was, unfortunately, closest. "Your turn, my dear. Your name and favorite present-fest."
"Roxas," the blond boy said. "And I guess…Halloween. I like the fake blood, and dressing up."
"Bet you do," a sonorous voice said, and Sora turned just in time to see Riku turn to Axel, whispering something in his air. Both boys laughed softly.
Alysa cast them a look out of the corner of her eye and clearly chose to ignore them. "You next," she said, staring fixedly at Hayner.
He shrugged. "Hayner. Christmas. Presents."
"A communicative one, I see. Alright, you with the crazy hair. Tell us your deepest, darkest, secrets."
Sora gulped. "My names…um…Sora. I like Christmas too, I guess." And it was true- it was one of the few times a year he could tolerate his family for more than half a second. Christmas was when they all got along, they were peaceful…but he couldn't say that in front of all these strangers.
"Another present-monger. Keep going," she said, her gaze swiveling to Kairi. "Ah! My fellow female! Glad to see I'm not alone."
"Kairi, and I like Columbus day. Soccer tournaments, you know."
"Sweet." Alysa responded with a smile, and Sora could instantly see who was going to be the favorite. Her gaze flicked to Axel, who hadn't said a word so far.
"My name is Axel- got it memorized? Anyway, I like the Fourth of July. Fireworks! Wanna see my burn marks?" He said, beginning to pull down one black sleeve.
"That's…quite alright." Alysa said, looking a little taken aback in spite of herself. Roxas, on Sora's left, grew visibly grumpier.
"I can't those idiots got put in our group," he muttered angrily to Sora.
But Riku, the boy with crystal eyes, was next, and Sora could feel himself involuntarily turning to look at the boy as he answered, sitting cross-legged with a sarcastic twist to his lips.
"My name's Riku, and I like Valentines Day."
"Dare I ask why?" Alysa said dryly.
"What can I say? I really like….chocolate." Riku said, and his eyes flicked over to where Sora was sitting, open-mouthed. His face took on a smirk.
"How…fascinating. Alright, my curiosity is satisfied. Doug, I believe you wanted to play another game?"
"I was thinking more like a team-building exercise, and you guys are going to be really excited, I swear. It's going to be like a contest, so I'll be breaking you into two groups, and Alysa, we're going to play, too. The rules are simple; I have some matches with me, and whoever can build a working fire fastest wins. Some basic campfire skills mixed in with a fun, friendly activity!" He said with vigor, not noticing Alysa rolling her eyes behind him.
"So let's see….I think we'll have Hayner and Kairi with us, Alysa, and that leaves…Sora, Roxas, Riku and Axel!"
He threw a very surprised Sora a pack of matches and pocketed one himself. "Alright…let the games begin!"
Roxas' glare was mutinous, and Riku was sneering back in an equally cold manner. Axel's gaze was fixed on the matches held in a very nervous Sora's lap.
This could be interesting….
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Yes, of course all six KH characters are in the same group. And OF COURSE Roxas and Sora get paired with Riku and Axel. It's the fanfic way.
Anways, that's chapter 3. Shortish, I know, but I am super-tired and will be posting the next chapter, which is basically the conclusion to the contest/the rest of the day VERY SOON. Like, either tomorrow or sometime this weekend.
Up Next: Sexcapades? Diving Contests? More of Alysa's unique take on counseling? What's not to love?
Reviews make me happy. Being happy makes me motivated. Being motivated means I write faster. Writing faster means we get to the fluff faster. So…Review?
