CHILD'S PLAY
By Starflower Sakura

DISCLAIMER: Nope, Kingdom Hearts doesn't belong to me. Perhaps if I work for Disney a little later on, it can belong to me just a little bit?

To readers/reviewers: I'm terribly sorry for the long wait! But wow! You guys are the best! You don't know how happy you've made me! It's not that I didn't want to write a new chapter, but the idea I had wasn't enough to take up a lot of pages and the other ideas I had I wanted to use for other chapters, but I've got everything figured out now! Sort of… Let's just hope this works out, ne? Also, if anyone's heard of the song "Uso Mitaina 'I Love You'" by Utada Hikaru that's the song I've been writing these couple of chapters to. So perhaps you should try reading it to the song if you have it as well. Heh, just a suggestion since it's a cool song.

Started: Monday, July 03, 2006
Completed: Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Child's Play
Chapter 3 – Detention With Dessert

"Oh, this is almost too good!" Selphie squealed as she bounced towards Sora and Kairi who was peacefully eating lunch.

Looking up, Kairi with a hint of amusement in her smile, and Sora with horror, they waited for Selphie to spill whatever she thought was "too good!" Sora wasn't quite as enthusiastic to find out as Kairi though.

"Guess what?" Selphie asked once she reached them, slamming her hands down on the table to command complete attention.

"If I don't say 'what?' will you refrain from telling us?" Sora pleaded, believing wholeheartedly that his first run-in with Riku was embarrassing enough to last a lifetime.

"Nope! Riku got detention with Ms. Yamamoto!"

"How?" Sora questioned with a tilt of the head. "I mean, he doesn't even have her as a teacher."

"Details, details," Selphie said. "Riku always gets in trouble with the teachers anyways, so it's not nothing new.

"But—"

Selphie ignored Sora and turned to talk to Kairi instead. "So here's what I was thinking…"

Sora groaned, pushed away his lunch and buried his head into his arm as he left the two girls to discuss his fate while wishing to disappear at the same time. Revenge or not, he still didn't want to get revenge at his expense. He was sure that the plans will just get even more embarrassing until one day he'll literally die from it.

Stupid Riku. If you didn't pursue me in the first place, we wouldn't be in this mess. Not that you know…

Feeling a tap on his shoulder, Sora groaned and muttered a "Go away," as he batted at the hand that was doing the tapping.

When the tapping turned to tickling, Sora reluctantly through restrained giggles lifted his head and glanced at his attackers.

Kairi smiled at him and Sora cringed. Whatever was coming, he simply wasn't ready for it.

"Ne, Sora, what do you think about detention?"

-------

He couldn't believe it. The girls were more devious than he first thought. He wasn't going to detention, but he was going to "help" his teacher with whatever she needed his help on. The girls volunteered his help just because he didn't want to go to detention! He always knew that bad would turn to worse.

"This is stupid," Sora muttered to himself as he walked through the deserted halls. "Getting revenge is one thing, but spending a perfectly good afternoon in a classroom doing work when you don't have to is another."

What was worse that both Kairi and Selphie left him to do "something." Sora will bet anything that they're plotting another plan. Sora sighed dramatically. The past couple of days for him was nothing but stressful. It really wasn't comfortable having random girls and guys come up to him and hitting on him, in which he was forced to flirt back. Subtly of course. The more intense flirting was reserved for Riku. "For now at least," Sora recalled Selphie saying with a wicked grin.

Perhaps it wasn't too late to go home and hide under his bed until the whole thing blows over. He wasn't that mad at Riku, and who was he to stop Riku in his quest for true love and happiness? Except Selphie and Kairi knows where he lives, and it probably isn't worth it to put his own life in danger.

Reaching the classroom, Sora reached out to slide open the door only to have it slide open for him with a very frazzled teacher standing on the other side.

"Hirata, what are you doing here?"

Sora blinked once, slowly recovering from the shock. "I was suppose to help you with whatever this afternoon. Selphie and Kairi talked to you, right?"

"Oh, right." Nyoko glanced back at Riku who had the most superior smirk on his face. "Look, do you think you can watch him for me?"

"Him? Why?"

A frown made its way across her face. "I forgot there was suppose to be a meeting today. What with the projects, grading, and students like him, it completely slipped my mind. It's not a long meeting. Thirty minutes at best. I'm sure you'll be able to handle it right?"

"Uh… sure?" was Sora's hesitant reply.

"Great! By the way, Kitano's detention is an hour long. When I come back, he will still have another thirty minutes to go. Don't let him out early," Nyoko warned.

Sora nodded, and in a moment's time, he was found alone on the classroom—with Riku. Riku stared suspiciously at Sora, and Sora glanced at anywhere but Riku. Sora wasn't ready for this. His first encounter with Riku was in wide-open spaces with Selphie and Kairi watching. If he was stuck, he could just depend on them to get him out of it. Right now, he was alone with nowhere to run. If he did run, Riku would no doubt leave and then he'll be in trouble. Just how is it possible for worse to turn even more worse?

Seeing that Sora wasn't going to do anything like the other day, Riku relaxed and even let a smirk cross his face. Sora still looked the way he did the other day (Selphie insists on it), but as long as he doesn't act the way he did, there was no reason for Riku to be on guard.

Okay, Sora. Breathe. If you don't take advantage of this and Kairi, or worst, Selphie, finds out, you're dead. Just pretend you're practicing with Kairi and everything will be alright.

Sora scowled. His attempt at a self pep talk wasn't exactly working. He was still extremely nervous and he was certain that his legs would betray him any minute and dash out the door. Sora closed his eyes, took a deep breath, put on his alluring smile, and walked towards Riku.

The smirk slowly slipped from Riku's face as soon as he caught the smile. Riku scowled. There was no way he was letting Sora get the best of him.

Reaching Riku's seat, Sora sat on top of the desk, smile widening when Riku shot him an apprehensive glare.

As a conversation starter, Sora began with this: "As rumor goes, I heard the reason you're in detention this time is because Ms. Yamamoto caught you sleeping in a tree on school grounds when you were suppose to be in class."

When Riku's eyes darkened, Sora was tempted to continue. "It was also said that you fell out of the tree when she started yelling."

Riku growled, "I did not fall out."

"Would you prefer the word 'tumble'?" Sora asked.

Avoiding Sora's question, Riku asked one of his own. "What are you doing in here anyways? A goody-two-shoes like you probably wouldn't be able to get in trouble if you tried."

Remembering to smile, Sora tilted his head sideways, and said, "Why, I'm here especially to keep an eye on you. Don't you feel special?" Sora leaned closer as he voiced the last question.

"If you don't back away now, I wouldn't assure you that your landing on the floor won't hurt," Riku snarled.

Not exactly doubting Riku's words, Sora leaned back and gave a mock sigh. "You're no fun, Riku."

"I'm not here for your entertainment."

Stifling his laughter, Sora asked, "How about if I paid you?"

Riku snorted, "If I were to exhibit my skills, it certainly won't be for someone who isn't mature enough to appreciate it."

Well, there we have it. All my humiliation and he still thinks I'm childish.

"Now if you'll kindly get off my desk and go elsewhere I would like to spend the rest of my detention in peace."

Sora pouted, but jumped off the desk anyways and went over to a seat by the windows. Immediately he took out a pencil and paper and began scribbling. With only the ticking of the clock and the sound of pencil on paper to break the silence, Riku was quickly becoming irritated, and curious.

Yes, he might've told Sora to go away, but he was Riku. People don't just ignore Riku even when told! There was Sora, though, paying more attention to what he was writing then the frustrated jade-eyed boy on the other side of the classroom.

"Will you stop that?" Riku growled.

Sora looked up from his paper and blinked at Riku in a confused fashion. "Stop what?"

"Writing. It's giving me a headache."

Sora raised an eyebrow at Riku. "My… writing is giving you a headache…" Sora said dubiously.

"Yes," Riku hissed. "That incessant scratching is grating on my nerves. Use another pencil or something!"

Sora sighed, but promptly put his paper away as he was sure that the sound of him writing wasn't the problem. It was that he was doing something while Riku was not, and Riku surely wouldn't stoop so low as to do his homework in detention. Or at home, for that matter. It always amazed Sora how Riku's grades still remain so high.

The door slid open causing Sora to jump and break away from his daydreams while Riku just rolled his eyes. Nyoko came in looking even worse then when she left. Sora would believe that she was the one that was fighting a migraine.

As soon as she got through the door, she waved her left hand and said, "Just go, Kitano. I don't think I'll be able to put up with your for another thirty minutes."

Riku smirked, "Whatever you say."

Picking up his bag, Riku strolled out the door without another word or glance at Sora.

"Um…" Sora said, not quite sure if he was allowed to leave as well.

"Oh, you can go too. Thanks for watching him, though."

Sora smiled, grabbed his bag, and with a quick "bye!" to his teacher ran after Riku.

-------

"Riku! I said wait!"

Riku's pace quickened as he heard Sora's footsteps approach on the cold cement. He wasn't fast enough though as he soon felt Sora's hand on his shoulder. He scowled. After the young boy caught his breath, he turned his head up to face Riku's with a pout resting on his lips.

"Riku! Why didn't you stop?"

"Bite me," Riku growled, roughly pushing Sora away.

Sora caught up easily, and placing both hands on Riku's shoulders from behind, he lifted himself onto his tiptoes. Sora's eyes twinkled with laughter, and his voice couldn't hide his amusement either as he repeated what Selphie taught him as a response in one of their training sessions, "Where and how hard?"

Riku automatically froze and this time Sora did laugh out loud.

Never thought I'll actually use it, Sora thought with a wry smile.

It was times like these in which his all his humiliation was worth it. Sora relished in his small victory over Riku and from the corner of his eye he caught sight of the same ice cream truck from the other day.

Forgetting all about revenge, seduction, and mostly everything else, Sora grabbed Riku's hand and ran towards the truck.

"Look, Riku! Ice cream!" was Sora's exuberant cry.

Having recovered from his shock already, Riku just rolled his eyes. Sora was stranger than he first thought. One minute he's flirtatious and seductive, and the next, he's drooling over ice cream like some five-year-old. Riku shook his head. He really didn't want to know.

"Hmm… what should I get… I got chocolate a couple days ago… Mango? Don't really feel like it. Strawberry? Nope. Umm…" Sora's eyes ran through the list of ice cream flavors three times before finally deciding that he was in the mood for vanilla.

"Are you done?" Riku asked with an exasperated sigh.

Sora turned towards him, ice cream in hand, and only after taking a lick did he venture to ask, "Aren't you getting one, Riku? It's really good!"

"I don't really like sweets," Riku ground out through gritted teeth.

Riku wasn't even sure why he was still there. It could be curiosity towards Sora's ever-changing personality, or it could be just that he was free with nothing to do. Riku hated being bored more than he hated Sora. Well, hate might not be exactly the right word, but he did like Sora more than he liked being bored. By just a little though.

"What?" Riku spat out, catching the shocked expression on Sora's face.

"You don't like sweets?" Sora choked out.

"Didn't you hear me the first time?"

"But… but…"

"Let's just go."

Riku started walking, and wondered idly if Sora will just continue standing there staring at his back. The only thought running through his head was, Predictable, when Sora caught up to him, face scrunched up in what seemed like a thoughtful expression.

Bounding up in front of Riku, Sora offered his ice cream with a cheerful, "Here!"

Riku gave him a look, but Sora stood there, ice cream still held out for Riku to take it.

"I don't want it," Riku said callously. He was starting to regret waiting for Sora.

"I only licked it once! Two at most!" Sora defended, believing that was the problem since, in his mind, no one can hate sweets.

"What part of 'I don't like sweets' don't you understand?"

"All of it," Sora answered truthfully. "How can you not like it?"

"I don't know! I just don't! Can you shut up now?"

"Not until you try a little!" Sora replied stubbornly. "This isn't even all that sweet, too so you might like it. You just don't like the overly sweet stuff, right?"

"No, I don't care much for sweets altogether."

"Much! So you like some, right? Since if you didn't, you could've just said 'I don't care for sweets…'" Sora said, trailing off at the end as he considered whether he made much sense in what he just said.

Riku really didn't know what to think about Sora anymore. One minute he's flirtatious, the next childish, and then stubborn right after that. And over something as silly as sweets too (Sora would've argued that it wasn't silly if he found out)!

"Don't you ever give up?" Riku asked, a defeated sigh following afterwards.

Sora grinned brightly as he responded, "Nope! And you better have some quick or it'll melt!"

Riku's frown deepened as he reached out for the offered ice cream and tentatively took a taste. He'll admit that it wasn't too bad, but only to himself. Who knows when a stubborn Sora might suddenly turn into a gloating one. It will be a sad day indeed when Riku is subjected to the gloating of another, especially an immature ex.

Shoving it back to Sora, he muttered, "It's too sweet. I told you I didn't like this stuff."

Sora looked at him curiously, then at the ice cream, and inquired, "Are you sure you don't like it?"

"Do I look like I'm not sure?" Riku retorted. Riku's really unsure as to why he's stuck around for so long. According to him, there were the above reasons, and the fact that Sora might come chasing again so why waste the energy?

Sora let the topic drop, and slowly licked his ice cream, smiling at the sensation it left in his mouth. The creamy substance, light on his tongue, and the flavor tantalizing without being too overbearing. It was a nice dessert to treat oneself and others to on a warm day.

Riku's furtive glances went by unnoticed. Riku watched as a pink tongue darted out again and again to bring a bit more of the cold treat into its cavern. Riku watched the silly grin on Sora's face grow with each tentative taste. And Riku watched as the ice cream began to melt.

"Ack! It's going to get all over my uniform!" Sora exclaimed, as he felt the milky substance drip onto his hand and continued its way down.

Looking around frantically for a napkin or something to wipe it off and finding none in the vicinity, Sora did the next best thing; he started to lick it up. His tongue followed the random trails up until he reached the top of the cone, and he went after another flowing trail, lapping that up as well.

"I… have to… go…" Riku choked out, his voice sounding a bit off from its normal tone.

Sora watched, ice cream still dripping, as Riku practically ran away from him. He didn't have the slightest idea why so all he could do was watch as Riku's retreating figure disappears into the distance. He could always ask why some other day. Besides, Sora reasoned, if he ran after Riku, his ice cream might fall.

To be continued…

Writing this is turning to be more stressful than I first thought. It would be easier to write if Sora knew what he was doing and was actually willing, but where's the fun in that? Of course, that's just me. As you can see, they really didn't get to know about each other while dating. Riku just sort of runs through partners without getting to know them or letting them know him. Also, this chapter took a mind of its own and didn't go in the direction I was looking for. The ice cream thing was supposed to be a planned plot, but it turned out to be an impromptu seduction method that flies over Sora's head. I hope I didn't disappoint anyone.

If you want to read more Riku x Sora ficlets from me, just go to my profile and click on the website link. It'll lead you to my LJ and the challenge ficlets there, I won't post here so if you're interested go and click on that link!

- Starflower Sakura