Hello, everyone. Thanks for all the awesome reviews: I didn't really think this story would start out well. I couldn't stop spacing out in all my classes (and managed to get away with it XD), wondering nervously about how many reviews I got and if I got any flames and if I should delete it. But your reviews made me really, really happy (and I still am), so I'm very determined to make you all happy with this wonderful story and to make it a big hit. AND I'M SORRY FOR TAKING SO LONG. Writer's block just LOVES me. Oh, I also posted this story to two KH communities on LiveJournal; apparently, I'm--no, MY story isn't loved as much as it is on XD
THANKS TO MY REVIEWERS:
Crazy-Emo-Goth: Yay for the first reviewer! Thank you. I'm glad you loved it.
F.N.89: No bricks? Thank you very much, ne! (Blinded by puppy dog eyes)
Kaiamara: I like writing in fed-up-with-school-and-hates-Riku0and-loves-a-lot-of-things-for-a-goth!Sora's POV. HA HA.
gilies: If you had put that second sentence before the first, I would've assumed that your review was a flamer. I don't know if I should thank you, Hiro. XP
Rhoda: I didn't take to long to update, did I? (gets bricked)
samuri: Fantastic? Thanks!
Vexating.Jinx: I was worried that this story wouldn't be good enough.
miissbear: Glad this story was interesting! I didn't think it'd this story would be good, though.
TwistedxTrance: I'm glad that Morg-chan enjoyed my story and laughed her butt of because of it. : )
Ayumi: Thanks, Ayu. And I thought you didn't like yaoi. (grin)
CrimsonDahlia: Um... "I"? Ah, I guess you accidently confirmed your review when you didn't even start it yet. Thanks anyway, though!
ChaosHarbor: I've updated! Haha (bricked)
senko09: Glad you enjoyed it.
Yamazaki Mukosho: Ah, Yama-kun, there were spelling errors and messups. This time, I checked over this chapter to make sure that it's all decent. And don't worry: Vincent is in this chapter!
SatisfactionwithaRazor: ... (T . T) I didn't show him, but thanks for reminding me. And did you even read alll of it? I only showed you a bit. Ah, thanks...
Trueno: Thanks much for the review. Hope this chapter is good enough.
And thanks to all who reviewed my first chapter that I didn't give thanks to. Maybe you reviewed after I update this chapter or I didn't bother to check who else reviewed before updating or whatever. But nonetheless, thank you to you all, ne. Also, thanks to the silent readers who have favorited this story and like it.
Disclaimer: Riku and Sora would be together if Kingdom Hearts belonged to me. HA HA. I kid, I kid.
Please excuse spelling and grammer problems.
DOUZO (BY ALL MEANS).
(. Chapter Two: Seperate Beds, PLEEEEEEASE!!! .)
"Leonhart-kun, stop being so stubborn!" Kairi said, pouting as she pulled me forward against my will along with Onsenko, Roxas, and Hayner. Here I was, being the pathetic pouting idiot like I always am, fighting my way towards the doors out of this educational hell zone with the four of them attempting to drag me like a rag doll towards Sephiroth-jackass's room. I'm NOT going to get tied to Riku! I'm NOT going to deal with this stupid project! And I don't want him infecting my house. EWWWW. We're gonna need a lot of air fresheners! And there's gonna be lots of cleaning to do.
Ugh, and I thought that finding out that Sephiroth was my health teacher was the worst day of my life.
Unfortunately, we reached Sephiroth's classroom. Riku was leaning against Sephiroth's desk, a smile on his face that I knew was forced, and Sephiroth was reading some magazine who some large breasted girl on the front. Ack.
I bet a thousand dollars that he only reads those disgusting things to prove himself straight while in secret he goes off to love hotels and screws the living daylights out of innocent little boys.
... Okay, forget I even said that. That was just terrifying.
Sephiroth put down his magazine, and by the expression plastered on his face, vaguely annoyed, (it was almost as if a vein was going to pop out on his forehead...) and said, "Leonhart, stop moving around." As if I was going to listen to him! I did the opposite of his command, puffing my cheeks and pursing my lips and flailed more wildly. "Leonhart," Seph said with a more serious and commanding tone, which made me flail even more. "Listen, Leonhart. If you don't get your ass over here right now--"
A pained groan cut into Seph's threat. I didn't realize that it emitted from Roxas and continued to until Onsenko started yelling at me for kicking him in the spot that all men never want to be hurt it. Well, unless the said man was a masochist. Which Roxas isn't. And if he WERE a masochist, he'd be prodding me into kicking him harder or something.
... Okay, that's just disturbing...
Why am I scaring myself with creepy thoughts today?
"OMIGOD! ROXAS!!"
"Owwwwwwwwww..." Roxas was on his knees, doubled over with his arms folded over his stomach (and his hands in between is legs, most likely).
"Roxas! I'm sorry!!" I cried, grabbing his shoulders and shaking him like a madman.
And just because I let my guard down for that one little moment, I allowed myself to finally be captured by the cursed rope that was to keep me bound to Riku for three whole weeks.
Can I just die, now??
FUCKING SEISHUU-SEPHIROTH-THE-FAGGIEST-BASTARD-OF-ALL-FAGGY-BASTARDS IS GOING ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE PITS OF HELL AND HE'S GOING TO BE DANCING IN A PINK FRILLY DRESS WITH THE DEVIL FOR ALL OF ETERNITY! THAT WILL HAPPEN! THAT WILL DEFIENATELY HAPPEN! IF IT'S NOT ON HIS TO-DO LIST IN LIFE, I WILL MAKE THAT HAPPEN! AND I WILL SHAVE HIS HEAD BALD BECAUSE HIS FRILLY RAPUNZEL HAIR ANNOYS ME SO BADLY.
IT WILL HAPPEN, DAMMIT!
(A/N: ...)
I hate this project, I hate this project, I hate this project... WHY, YUFFIE?! WHY (Insert me falling down to my knees with a twisted look on my face whil screaming in agony here)?! I AM SO KILLING HER WHEN I GET HOME!!! Why the hell is SHE the principal of our school, anyway?
I'm really doing a good job of keeping myself from wringing pretty boy's neck; walking down in this empty hallway with him in front of me is enough to get my blood boiling. Being tied to him makes this even worse.
We finally pushed the doors open to the outside world, leaving the killing confinement of education and breathing in fresh air. Eager to get home, I raised my foot to pop out the wheels implanted in the sole of my shoe, but before I could do so, Riku pulled on the rope bounding us together and I stumbled backwards, almost landing on my butt.
"What the hell was that for?!" I screeched.
"I need to get my bike."
I need to get my bike, I bitterly micmicked in thought, trudging after him like a dead zombie. We had to walk all the way to the bike racks, which were almost near the back of the school.
Riku mounted his bike and stared at me. I stared back, but with an angry gleam in my eyes. Quirking an eyebrow, he patted the spot behind his bike. "Sit."
"I have skates, thank you very much," I spat, pointing at my shoes. Riku shrugged and turned away, a smug smile tugging at his lips. I twitched.
"Alright, I'm gonna start moving.""Let me get my wheels out," I said, picking up my foot. But once again, Riku interrupted me. Except he didn't with just a little tug.
"HEY! STOP! I HAVEN'T GOT MY WHEELS OUT!!" I cried, pushing myself to run faster while Riku continued to peddle away like a madman.
"What's that? You want me to go faster??"
"YOU WANT TO DIE, DON'T YOU?!"
Damn...
Boy, this is going to be a long and aggravating project...
We dropped by at Riku's house to get his stuff. Kairi wasn't around, so it was pretty obvious that she was crashing at Onsenko's.
Man, I miss them. Riku just HAS to be my replacement for them. I hope they can come to the party tonight.
Sephiroth was busy with grading papers or something, and Riku wasn't allowed to touch Seph's car, so Riku was on his phone, calling up a friend to drop us off at my place. As he was talking away, I stood off to the side, examining his house a bit. It was still pretty. And the walls seemed to have been covered with fresh paint. My eyes were drifting to Kairi's small garden when the window nearest to it caught my eye. It was the only one that had no blinds in the way. One curtain was tucked back while the other hung over half the window.
It was Riku's window.
Riku's room didn't change at all. It's kinda funny, seeing that three years passed and it's still the same. His desk was in view from where I was standing, with the same black desk lamp and the GLAY poster right above it. His wall paper wasn't even a different shade of blue; it was the exact same shade that Onsenko had suggested back then. But his room wasn't what made me stare, although it was pretty strange that he didn't seem to add or remove anything at all.
There was a pink bunny with floppy ears wearing a big white bow around its neck. Its eyes were big and shiny and a smile was under its black nose. It was really cute. And it looked familiar.
I was about to break my gaze away from it when a twig snapped in my mind.
That bunny...
"... at your place."
"Yeah, sure," I answered, my eyes locked on the bunny.
"Leonhart, did you even hear a word that I said?"
'Uh huh."
Isn't that...?
"... What're you staring at?"
"Huh?" I blinked at Riku, who was looking at me with narrow bored eyes. "Oh. N-nothing," I muttered, turning away from him. He still had that bunny sitting on his windowsill... But why, though?
I quickly glanced over my shoulder to make sure that Riku wasn't staring at me with some deadpan glare before slapping myself in the face. Just forget about it, Sora.
Riku's best friend, Larxene, picked us up. I don't really know her, but then again, everyone doesn't. Larxene nevers talks to anyone but Riku. Sure, she greets many good morning and helps out students with school work and such, but Riku is the only one whom she truly hangs out with. I really don't get how they're friends. Larxene's this cool, punk girl who's kind and makes everyone smile, while Riku is just a jerk who has everyone falling for his fake identity.
After thanking Larxene for the ride, I was forced to bring some of Riku's luggage to the front door. "You wait right here," I commanded rudely as I pulled out the keys to the house. Riku just smiled smugly at me; I could tell that he was restraining himself from snickering.What? I'm not some little, weak, girly boy. I can be commanding! Rolling my eyes, I turned my attention back to the door and inserted the key into the door knob's slit. I twisted the door knob, pushed the door open, and walked in. "I'm home!" I called out, slipping my shoes off.
No answer.
I wrinkled my nose and averted my eyes everywhere, not a single living thing in sight. Okay, there were plants around, so living being. Well, this was weird. To think that I'd be attacked by the crazy tornado of hugs and kisses and squealing that was Aunt Aerith. And that Uncle Cloud would've tested my martial arts skills by popping out of nowhere like some magical fairy and throwing quick punches and kicks at me.
Maybe they're outside, I mused, my finger pressed down on my bottom lip. "I should try calling again..." Taking in another deep breath, I yelled again. "I'M HOOOOOO-AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!"
"SORA!" Aunt Aerith cried, squeezing me so tightly that it seemed like I was a going to shrivel like a balloon that ran out of air. Dad stood off to the side grinning and I couldn't see Uncle Cloud or Yuffie anywhere.
"A-aunt Aer... ith... can't... B-breath!" I managed to choke out.
Laughing nervously, Aunt Aerith loosened her hold on me but held onto my arms.
"Welcome home!" we both yelled in unison, grinning stupidly at each other.
"Where's Uncle Cloud?"
"Right over here," a cool voice called out from the kitchen. My grin grew wider when Uncle Cloud "Hey, Sora."
"Uncle Cloud!" I spread my arms wide open to give him a hug. Before his arms could clamp tightly around me in a warm hug, I was tugged back by surprise and slammed into the wall near the door, the big picture frame hanging above almost crashing down on my head. I couldn't stop myself from squealing in shock and staring up at the frame in horror.
Everyone stared at me with mirrored looks of 'did-Sora-just-crash-into-the-wall-while-surprised-himself?'.
"Ummm... Sorry? My stomach is a bit, uh, flippy? Um. I'm- Ah, I'm hungry."
Riku... He better learn how to sleep with his eyes open.
"Oh, well I'm making lunch!" Aunt Aerith's smile faultered and was replaced with a frantic look. "Which I should finish! I'll go do that right now!"
"Umm. Aha ha."
"Is it safe to hug you now?"
"Y-yeah. Uh huh," I sheepishly chuckled, offering my arms again. Uncle Cloud laughed and embraced me in a warm bear hug, and before I could fully snuggle against him like I always did ever since I was a child, I was, once again, tugged back. This time, my back bumped into the edge of the fancy drawer that was even closer to the door. Dad quickly jumped forward to the drawer just in case the vase sitting on top of it would tumble off. And that was when Dad noticed.
"Sora? Umm.. Is that a rope around your waist?"
"... Uhh..."
Raising an eyebrow at me, Dad casually strolled towards the door and flung it open. Riku was sitting on one of his suitcases, trying to look innocent while whistling a merry little tune. When he noticed (well, pretended to notice) Dad standing at the door staring at him amusingly, he smiled and stood up. "Hi, Leonhart-san."
"Hello, Riku. So..."
"Oh, this rope?" Riku curled his fist around and gave it a small but forceful tug and the edge of the drawer dug deeper into my back. "School project.
Ouuch.
Quickly, I moved away from the drawer and stood at Dad's side, glaring Riku down.
"Riku! It's so good to see you again." Aunt Aerith rushed past me, giving Riku a hug. Riku smiled sweetly at her. I wanted to bite his head off.
After we explained the project (while I resisted the urge to lunge at my Dad for chuckling), Dad and Uncle Cloud helped drop Riku's belongings in my room, we went back downstairs into the dining room.
"So exactly who is coming to the party?" Riku asked, bowing in thanks at Aunt Aerith as she handed him a can of soda. I was wondering about that, too. Aunt Aerith and Uncle Cloud were pretty famous in Japan, after all. So who was coming besides friends and family?
... Hmmm, I remember Uncle Cloud saying that he knew Typhoon from my favorite band, Trax...
... Hehehe... Typhoon's cute...
"Just family and friends," Cloud answered, yawning as he continued to work on the story he was typing up on his laptop. I tried to peer at the summary a few times already, but he always caught me and threatened to tickle me to death.
Shaking my head of Typhoon related thoughts, I added, "You know that their might be stupid paparazzi lurking about."
"Don't worry, Sora" Aunt Aerith chirped with a reassuring tone in her voice. "We told the news reporters that the only ones attending the private party were our family and friends ONLY. I also added that if they and anyone else even set their dirty little feet on your lawn, we'll let the large evil bulldog in the backyard out and onto them, and that it isn't our responsibility if they're all eaten up." "And the dog doesn't really mind raw meat, so he'll be satisfied." There was something about the way that Aunt Aerith sounded like she was explaining this to a toddler that made it dead disturbing. And yes, I am VERY disturbed. Disturbance is just my best friend today, right?
"There's a bulldog in the backyard?"
"Yup! His name is Bite."
"Bite?"
"Yes! We adopted him from an animal shelter in England. He's so adorable! And he loves to bite things. Especially live humans!"
I stared at her with wide eyes. I didn't even bother checking if Riku was as frightened as I was because Aunt Aerith might let that dog loose onto me or something a split second before I can turn back to look at her.
"Anyway, I made katsudon (1)! And it should be done already..."
I grinned. "I love your katsudon!"
Uncle Cloud smiled gently. "Aerith makes the best, doesn't she, Sora?"
Aunt Aerith blushed and bumped her hip against his before scuttling back to the kitchen to get the boys their food.
"Hey, Aeri, lemme help."
"Squall, it's not THAT hot."
"Don't call me Squall!"
"Don't yell at me!"
"You'd think they'd stop with the fighting..." Cloud grinned sheepishly at me and shuffled towards the kitchen, leaving me and Riku alone.
Well, this is awkward.
I think this silence is going to commit a deadly homocide on me.
"... Jerk," I muttered under my breath, resting me head on my arms.
"Loser," Riku muttered back.
Oh, so he heard me, ne? He wants to fight? Okay then. BRING IT ON.
"Girly."
"Weak."
"Weirdo."
"Pansy."
"Show off." I pursed my lips.
"Smart ass."
"Fag."
"Harlot." Riku smirked.
"I AM NOT--"
"Augh! Shit!"
"Squall! No foul language!"
"How the hell am I suppose to speak properly when it feels like my fingers are going to burn off?!"
"Oh, it's not that hot- Ouch! Shit!"
"No foul language, huh?"
"Shut your mouth, Squall!"
"I told you not to call me that!"
"And I told you not to yell at me!"
"I'm the older one, so--"
"WILL YOU TWO JUST SHUT UP?!"
Silence.
Riku and I just stared at the kitchen entrance.
Seconds later, Uncle Cloud walked in with a tray of steaming katsudon balanced on one hand. Dad and Aunt Aerith followed silently, locked in a death glare match. I couldn't stop myself from laughing a bit. And I didn't bother stopping myself.
"Here you go, guys."
"Thanks," I said at the same time that Riku did. I cleared my throat and grabbed my bowl and my pair of chopsticks from the tray. Thank you, Uncle Cloud. Riku did the same afterwards.
I slapped my hands together, bowing my head, and said, "Bon appetite!" Instead of just hearing my voice, Riku's hit my ears, too. Again, we spoke in unison. Ignoring him, I picked up some katsudon with my chopsticks and threw it into my mouth.
"Mmmm! Umai (2)!" I chirped.
"Mmmm! Maiyu (3)!" Riku said at the same time. The look of satisfaction on my face dispersed; I turned my icy glare in Riku's direction, twitching in surprise when my eyes met with his. Our faces mirrored the same expressions of digust with each other, and because I didn't want to stare at his horrible face any longer, I turned back to my food first and dug in like a starving lion.
Rubbing my stomach with a dreamy look on my face, I stood up and began to walk towards the sink to put my bowl away when I was tugged back. I almost tripped over my chair.
"I'm not done eating," Riku said.
Ugh.
"Where's Yuffie? I gotta talk to her," I said, making sure that my voice didn't hint that I wanted to commit homicide with her as the victim.
"She's in her room."
She must be cackling evilly about what she did to me, I thought, my face completely supplied of anger.
"Okay, I'm gonna visit her a bit before getting ready for the party," I forced myself to chirp as I dragged Riku away with me towards the swirling staircase.
"Don't kill her, kiddo," Dad called from the kitchen and I fight back the urge to run back over there and strangle him. I wasn't in a good mood. And seriously, who wouldn't if you had to deal with living with and being tied together with a distance of five feet inbetween you with the person who hated most in the world for THREE WEEKS?
PLEASE, GOD, there's gotta be some luck left to spare? I need it!
The fact that Riku was actually letting me drag him around like a rag doll surprised me, roaming around with him behind me, actually
"Totsuzen dakedo suki (4)!"
Yuffie's uncontrollable giggling followed and then I heard a string of more, "Totsuzen dakedo suki."
Greaaaat. Not again. "He doesn't like you, so give it a rest, already!" I shouted from outside the door. Jeez, Yuffie's obsession with Johnny's Entertainment was a pain. When she wasn't bothering me and trying to make my life a living hell, she'd be all over the Johnny's boys: listening to their music, drooling over their pictures, watching their performances and talk show appearances over and over again. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate the guys (they're cool, and pretty hot... Especially Akanishi Jin... But you didn't hear the last part from me!!), and I'm a fan, actually, but-- Okay, I'm getting off topic. In short, Yuffie is annoying when it comes to Johnny's and drives me insane with them! I believe that other than the fact that her reigning fangirling annoys me, she makes them look bad! HA HA.
"Yamapi DOES like me! You're just jealous because you're gay and he's not!"
I angrily ignored the snicker that came from Riku and yelled back at her. "Well, you're a man, aren't you, Yuffie? So-"
All of a sudden, loud music blasted from her room like a elephant trumpeting to signal a stampede. Riku and I slapped our hands over our ears, wincing in pain at the sudden explosion of music. Ooh, she KNEW that Takki and Tsubasa's Crazy Rainbow was gnawing at my nerves like hungry rats with sharp teeth. That song just pissed me off now! I can't watch One Piece without being reminded of that song!
Bravely (somewhat), I uncovered my ears and repeatedly pounded my fists at her door. "YUFFIE!! YUFFIE, OKAY I'M SORRY! OPEN THE DOOR! PLEEAAAAAAAAAAAAASE!!!"
"WHAT WAS THAT?! I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!"
"AUGH! FINE! AUNT YUFFIE"- Bleaah, saying that always brings a bad taste to my mouth -"TURN OF THE MUSIC! PLEASE!!"
Right on cue, the music stopped. Riku sighed in relief, rubbing his ears. I stood
Yuffie slammed her door open, wearing her favorite oversized yellow shirt with a big penny in the middle and bold letters that said, "Here's a penny. GO BUY YOURSELF A SENSE OF HUMOR." There was a spoon jammed in between her lips, which were tugged downwards in a annoyed frown. And as usual, a long, slim white cloth was tied around her forehead. "What is it, twirp?" she scoffed, her words slurred by the spoor. When she noticed Riku standing beside me (a good three feet apart, thank you very much), her expression changed and she flashed him one of her famous smiles. "Oh, hi, Riku. I could've sworn I told Seph-chan to start the project NEXT week..."
"Next week?!" Riku and I both screeched, wide-eyed.
"Eh?" She stared at us, a confused expression on her face as she tilted her head to the side like a curious golden retriever. Seconds later, it was as if lightning struck her all of a sudden and she grinned sheepishly at us. "Ooohhh.."
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN NEXT WEEK?!"
"DID YOU TELL HIM?!"
Yuffie put her hands up in defense. "Yes, I did! I did! I guess he just wanted to get it over with. After all, your health class DOES have social problems that need to be fixed," she explained, "Oh, and how funny is this: you two, paired up. Neheh. I'm amazed that you both managed not to rip each other apart limb by limb yet."
"Well, if you don't tell Seph to call of the project until next week like it should've been, then I'll rip YOU apart limb by limb!"
"Rude much," Yuffie muttered, rolling her eyes at me and taking her phone out of her pocket. "I'll call him right now. Hold on."
We both stared at her as she waited for Sephiroth to pick up.
"Oh, hey, Seph. Uh, why am I calling you? Because I have two brats outside my room complaining about the project. I told you to start it next week, didn't I?..."
Stare.
"Yes, Sora and Riku... Uh huh... Maybe you SHOULD start it next week. I mean, you just thrust the project in their faces like that while they were unprepared... Well--..."
Stare.
"... Alright then. Sorry to bother you. Later."
Stare.
"Well?"
"He said to stop being sissies and deal with this project like men, or at least attempt to."
Scream.
"What?! Are you serious?!"
"Come on, Yuffie! You're our principal!"
"You know, I had a dream once," Yuffie said, staring into space and ignoring our anger. "I was on a talk show with you, Sora. Then I started screaming."
"Why? Did something scary happen?"
"I was very scared."
"Of what?"
"That I'd DIE OF BOREDOM."
And with that, Yuffie slammed the door in our faces.
I glared at the closed door, which would've been stupid, but it wasn't because she knew I was glaring at her. "Well, if you put two boring people together, it probably wouldn't matter!"
Yuffie laughed.
Then Riku laughed.
Then it hit me. Really hard. "NO! YUFFIE, THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT!!"
"Shut up! I'm trying to eat here!"
"Yuffie!" I started banging on the door like a crazed maniac.
I gave up when my arms started getting tired and sagged to the floor like a deflated balloon, holding back the rest of my anger. There was a brief moment of silence before Riku broke it. And of course, with a snide remark.
"You know, Yuffie isn't the boring one."
"Shut the hell up."
The party was going off to a good start. Almost all our friends and relatives came. Onsenko and Roxas weren't around, sadly. Guess they didn't want to share the embarassment of being tied to someone with a thick old rope while dressed in formal attire. And I was going to save my embarassment by eating upstairs in my room. While Riku was getting his food, I had to suffer some conversations with two of Dad's younger cousins whom I haven't met before and Tifa, a good friend of Aunt Aerith's and Uncle Cloud's.
I thought that I'd die if I talked to someone else, but the thought instead died when I saw Uncle Cloud's best friend, and one of my most favorite people in the world, Vincent, entering the house. When I was a kid, Vincent took the role of being my baby-sitter and took care of me very well. When I would go to bed, he always sat at my side until Dad and Mom came home because I was scared of monsters popping out of my closet. He played lots of games with me, and helped me out with lots of things. We haven't seen each other for three years now, but Vincent and I still keep in touch.
Vincent's a writer, just like Uncle Cloud; he's writes lots of fantasy and adventure novelshe knew Uncle Cloud since the second grade, and Dad in junior high. He and Dad get along just fine, but Vincent is more of Uncle Cloud's friend. Uncle Cloud told me that they can talk for hours, and when they have nothing to say, they just sit side by side, enjoying each other's presence and watching the world around them. When they have problems, they always call each other up; they defend each other one hundred percent, too. Their friendship reminds me of the one I have with Onsenko and Roxas. We're all just like that. And I love it.
I waved furiously at Vincent when Uncle Cloud pointed me out to him. He waved back and motioned for me to go over to him. Grimacing, I unbuttoned my jacket and opened it to show him the rope around my waist and took a few steps to the side to show him who I was tied to. Vincent raised an eyebrow, smiling slighty, and turned back to Uncle Cloud. Seconds later, Vincent walked over to where I was and gave me a quick embrace. Riku was still busy piling his plate with food.
"You hair looks nice," I complimented, tugging at his pony tail. "I liked it better when it was long, though."
"You really think so? Cloud forced me to cut it." Vincent didn't look pleased. "But besides my hair, I thought you'd never talk to him again. And you're tied to him because??"
"School project. Seph set us up."
"Oh, I see." Vincent stared out into space; I knew what he was thinking about. And I didn't want him to say anything about it either.
Luckily, he didn't and we just talked a bit more until Riku tapped my shoulder and said that we can go back to my room. Riku and Vincent had a short chat before we stalked back up to my room.
Riku sat at my desk while I was lying on my stomach on my bed with my laptop in front of me, waiting for Roxas or Onsenko to get online. As I was chewing on a piece of shrimp, Onsenko popped up online. I threw the rest of the shrimp into my mouth and double clicked on her user name.
"Hey, Onsen."
"Sora! Hiiiiii! Nice icon!"
I laughed silently. Ah, yes; my icon. "I am on hiatus until you admit that you fail at life," it said in bold white letters on a black background. "Thanks. Couldn't make it to the party?"
"I'm sorry. My mom said I'd look stupid tied together with someone in dressy clothing. Tell the lovely couple I said hello!"
"Yeah, sure. So, how's everything with Kairi?" I typed. Luckily for me, Riku was being a pig and paying attention more to his food rather than my budding conversation with Sen-sen.
Now if only he'd give me some privacy like this for the rest of the project.
"Sora, you make it sound like Kairi is suppose to be the most boring person in the world. I'm having a great time! Kairi's awesome. I don't understand why you didn't want me to be friends with her in the first place."
"Hey, I never said that!"
"Well, then, you need to be more specific!!"
"Hmph."
"So have you heard from Roxy yet today?"
"Nope." I grinned, pausing for a moment, then typed up another message before Onsenko could reply. "I bet he must be busy with Hayner, hmmm?"
I knew that Onsenko was giggling. "Hehe. Knowing Roxas, he must be a babbling wreck
"HAHAHA. TRUE."
"So what about Riku?"
"Being a jerk, like always. Right now he's stuffing himself with food."
"Aww, come on."
"Don't start with me."
"Well, I just think that you should start talking to him again. It wasn't his fault."
"SEN."
"But-"
"SEN!"
"Okay, sorry, sorry..."
"... I'm never letting that go, Sen. It's his fault, and I'm never forgiving him."
"I know, I know. I'm sorry, okay?"
"..."
"So are you and Riku sharing your bed?"
My face faultered at her question. I stared at the screen like an idiot for a moment before typing so furiously that the keys clicked loudly under my fingers. "WHAT KIND OF STUPID QUESTION IS THAT?! OF COURSE WE ARE!"
I leaned back into my seat, glaring at the screen. It was when Onsenko started typing that I realized my mistake.
"AREN'T! I MEANT AREN'T! I WOULDN'T SHARE MY BED WITH THAT JERK! MY ROOM SUFFERED ENOUGH POISON ALREADY!"
"Are, huh? OOOOOH. Sora and Riku are gonna get all CUDDLY!" I waited for her to realize that I had sent her another message and to type up a new one. "Oh. I was just asking! Sorry!"
"That's the stupidest question that I've heard you ask," I told her.
"Not as stupid as the one about the possibility of a cat and dog having an intercourse?" Onsenko asked.
"... Okay, THAT was the stupidest question ever. But that one who just asked is REALLY close to it."
"The rope is only feet five long. And you move a lot in your sleep. Are you sure that you won't accidently fall onto Riku when he's on the floor or something?"
"We're going to sleep in one of the guest rooms with two beds."
"Awww, Sora's so nice!"
"I'm not being nice! Dad'll kill me if he sees Riku snoring on the floor."
"Oh. So do you think there's a guest room available?"
"Duh. We have a bunch! And not all of our relatives are staying."
"B-b-b-but, DAAAAAAD! Come on! We have, like, what--thirty guests rooms in the house! They can't ALL be occupied!"
Dad frowned, folding his arms over his chest and coolly murmuring, "Sora, you're off by sixteen rooms. And yes, they are all taken by our relatives and some friends. Well, the last room down the hall isn't, bu-"
"WE'RE TAKING IT THEN!" I triumphantly yelled and began marching in the direction of the last room availabe, dragging Riku with me. But before I could even take my second step, a hand clamped down on the top of my head and turned me around.
"Whoa, there, kiddo." Dad put his hands on his hips. I fixed my hair. "The little kids snuck into the last room to do some painting, but all hell broke lose and the whole room was freshly covered in paint: walls, ceiling, furniture and all."
"PAINT BALL FIGHT!" Sayuri, my seven-year-old cousin, happily said, tugging on my pants leg. I groaned, slapping my forehead in disappointment. Greaaaat.
"Isn't it that the point of this project is to LIVE with your partner and communicate and whatnot with him for the next three weeks?"
Silence.
I uncomfortably rocked back and forth on my feet "Well, can we at LEAST live in seperate beds???"
Dad just stared at me with an eyebrow raised.
I shifted backwards from my dad. "Please?"
Stare.
"Come on, Dad..."
Stare.
"..."
Stare.
"... I HATE IT WHEN YOU STARE AT ME LIKE THAT! FINE! FINE!!"
Dad smiled smugly at me. "Always works."
"... What are you doing?"
I rolled my eyes and let out a loud scoff, grabbing another pillow and stacking it on the mountain I was making. There was NO way I was going to share my bed with that jerk without a thick wall in between us. Because we were tied together, I had to make sure that we were on either side of the bed with the rope stretched across the mattress before building the wall. I also had to make sure that there was nothing that we needed to get because then I'd have to take off a lot of the pillows and then start all over again once the deed was done.
"... Making a mountain to climb up, huh?"
I looked up from my work to see if Riku's big head was still in sight and cringed when I saw the gross smirk on his face.
"..." More pillows, I mused, grabbing at the pillows pooled around my feet.
"... The white pillows clash nicely with your 'oh so colorful' room."
"Shut up and put on your clothes, dammit!" I shrieked, hurling one pillow at his face, which he, sadly, dodged.
Riku chuckled. "What? It really bothers you that I'm only clad in my boxers?"
"And here I thought that being with you was enough to make me vomit. Ugh..."
"Heh."
Silence.
"... So what's up with the pillows?"
"This is the Bed Boundary."
"The Bed Boundary," Riku repeated, seemingly amused.
"Yes. You stay on that side, I stay on this side, we don't end up waking up with our arms around each other in the morning- everyone is happy."
"Hm. Okay, then. I'm happy, already." Riku smiled smugly at me and proceeded to finding himself some clothes to sleep in.
"..."
"What're you staring at?"
"Bunny boxers?" I pointed out, raising an eyebrow.
"Yup."
"And you have a big usagi plushie, too."
"Uh huh. I love bunnies. Is that a problem?"
"Nope. I just didn't think that a jerk like you would like cute and fluffy things."
Riku scoffed.
I was done when Riku finished dressing. I looked at the horizon of the Great Wall of Pillows (HA HA) and all I could see was the top of his head.
Perfect.
Lying down on my bed, I pulled my blanket up to my stomach.
"Well, good night. Pansy."
"Jerk!" I muttered as my eyes fluttered closed.
As silently as possible, Yuffie opened the door to her step-brother's room, tiptoed in, and shut the door behind her. Although the floor was marble, the sound of her footsteps was faint and silent. Leon stood on the opposite side of the room, staring out the large window that took up the whole wall.
"Yuffie." Leon yawned and rubbed his eyes, his voice slighty dead.
"..."
"I know you're there."
"..."
"... You have the crappiest ninja instincts."
"Ugh! I do NOT!"
Leon yawned again and turned to look at his step-sister with a smirk on his handsome face. "Oh, Yuffie. Hello."
Yuffie flailed her arms around in what Leon assumed was a special language for stupid people, her face twisted in anger. "Leon, you--..." Stopping her mad flailing and folding her arms, she spat out a rough, "I hate you," making Leon's smirk deepen.
"I know you don't. Now what're you doing here?"
Walking towards him in swift strides, Yuffie said, "You looked like shit out there. Just wanted to check up on ya. Aerith and I were really worried."
"Don't joke. You already know why."
"Eh? What- OH. That's why."
Leon nodded. Besides the fact that the excitement from the party tackled down his energy, he was starting to feel sick. His joints were a bit achy, and he already used up half a box of tissues. Yes, it was that time again. No matter what, during winter, the flu always captures him. It was like some evil curse that only affected him.
"I can take care of myself, okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, I know."
"... Why did you set up Sora and Riku together? You know that-"
"Yeah, yeah--they're not best friends anymore and they hate each others's guts." Yuffie leaned back against the window, the moon's light carressing her slender figure. She raised her head and gazed at Leon with sad eyes. "But don't you miss seeing Sora's true smile?"
"Even if they became friends again, I don't think Sora will have that smile back on his face. After that incident..."
Yuffie sniffed and rubbed her nose. She shifted her weight onto her left foot. "I chose Sora's health class because they DID need help with her social skills..."
"That's a cover up for your real purpose."
"... Sora lost two cherished people in that period of his life. I think he deserves to have one of them back."
"..."
Only one of them... because she's gone...
"Are you sure you're alright, Leon? You look even shittier now. I'm sorry about mentioni-"
"Yuffie, I believe 'shittier' isn't in an actual word."
Yuffie, forgetting "Well it is in MY dictionary! Now get to bed, you wuss," Yuffie said, pushing at his chest. Instead of him stumbling backward, she did and fell flat on her butt on the floor. Leon laughed and pulled her up.
"I'll go to bed later. I just wanna finish this song I'm writing."
Yuffie eyed him suspiciously.
Leon quirked an eyebrow, casually strolled over to his bed, and grabbed his acoustic guitar and sheet music book. He held them up at her like a little child attempting to show off a new shiny toy or something. Yuffie took his book and flipped through the pages of the song he had started.
"... Okay, okay. Just don't over do yourself. And please go to bed before two. Please?"
"Wow. Isn't my usual bedtime always nine thirty sharp?"
Yuffie growled low in her throat, her long ebony bangs draped over her eyes as an eerie feeling lingered in the air.
"Yes, yes, I will, okay?" Leon said, holding his hands up in defense, slightly frightened.
Yuffie cleared her throat and grinned. "Are you sure?"
"Positive. I'm coming down with the flu, remember?"
Yuffie laughed. "You make it sound like it's no problem at all."
"Well, it isn't. I've been dealing with this for years already."
"I know, I know. Well, good night, bro." Because she didn't want to risk getting sick (she had this concert that she's been looking forward to since FOREVER), she pressed a dainty finger to her lips before tapping Leon's cheek. "Chuu (5)!" she cutely chirped and bounced off.
Leon chuckled. "Night," he said, right as she left the room.
For another thirty minutes or so, Leon continued to stand near his window, trying to locate any visible stars lingering up in the pitch black sky. Well, just trying to locate a certain star, actually. He sighed balancing on the balls of his feet. There used to be one little star, always just above the tall sakura tree in their backyard, that always stared down at him, shining brightly. He was out on the balcony with a rambling seven-year-old Sora and his mother, Rinoa, the first night they noticed the tiny star. Rinoa pointed it out, and told Sora that it was a special star because in the city, stars were almost always out of sight.
It was a special star, all right. It always seemed to calm down his nerves. Every night, he watched that star, for long periods of time, or for just a small amount of seconds. He just watched it.
But strangely, it just disappeared. Right on that day... Three years ago...
That day...
A small creak that signaled his door opening shattered his thoughts, to his relief. But he didn't want to be bothered. He frowned, not bothering to turn around and shoo his visitor away.
Yuffie really needs to work on her 'ninja powers.'
"Yuffie, don't mess with me. I'm not in the mood for games."
"Yuffie?" a low and seductive voice murmured. Leon tensed up, strong arms wrapping around his waist and a slender body rubbing against his.
"... Cloud..."
"She was in here before me?" the younger male's sultry voice whispered, his breath humid against the flap of the older's ear. Soft, dampened lips then skimmed down his jawline, down his neck, in slow butterfly kisses. They stopped on Leon's shoulder, lingering there for a moment, just pressing down on the smooth skin that women envied. Who could blame them? Leon was a masterpiece. A masterpiece that Cloud once owned. "Not in the mood for games?" Cloud stared at the window, a slightly blurred reflection of Leon on its surface. His face was deprived of any emotion, just blank, yet still beautiful. His thin lips were curved downward in a frown that looked so sexy, and his eyes just focused on the sky. Cloud knew where. "... What did you guys do?"
"... What are YOU doing here?"
A dead sigh floated over his shoulder. "I just wanted to check up on you... And I missed you."
Leon wanted to lean back into the familiar curves of the younger male's, just wanted to stay like that for the whole night. He missed feeling the warmth of another's body in his arms at night. And he was just feeling...
Shitty.
There's another word for Yuffie's lovely dictionary.
"Leon..."
"..." Leon turned around and pried Cloud's arms from his waist, pushing past him roughly. "I'm going to bed."
"... Whatever you say." Cloud pursed his lips, watching the older man slither into his big bed. He let out another sigh and proceeded to leave the room, his eyes still on the lump under theh thin sheets. As he gently closed the door, he murmured, "Good night."
Leon stayed under the covers, a bare hint of his hair peeking through, waiting until he was sure Cloud was gone. Then he kicked the bedsheets off, grabbed his guitar, and started to work on finishing his song.
... HA HA HA, Riku called Sora a 'harlot.' Look it up if ya don't know the word. XD
Johnny's Entertainment.. Couldn't help but add them in. HA HA. Yeaaaah, I'm obsessed with them, too. XD It's not MY fault they're totally awesome and, uh, hot... Ahem... Well? How was that? Hopefully not disappointing like the chapter? Sorry for the short CloudxLeon smexiness (avoids bricks). I wrote pretty good smexiness, though... Hooray for me! But why IS there CloudxLeon smexiness when Cloud is MARRIED? And SEME Cloud? (gets bricked) HA HA. Answers will come soon.. This chapter was really fun to write, with Sora having to suffer Riku's evilness and all. Heh.
Here's the translations to the Japanese words if you have no clue what they mean:
1) Katsudon (kaht-soo-don)- a popular Japanese food; it is a bowl of rice topped with a deep-fried pork cutlet, egg, and condiments.
2) Umai (ooh-my)- Tasty/delicious
3) Maiyu (my-you)- Childish way of saying 'umai'
4) Totsuzen dakedo suki (toat-soo-zen da-keh-do s-kee)- I know this is very sudden, but I like you
5) Chuu (choo)- Kiss
And now for the chapter preview. Yaaaay.
Chapter Preview: Sora assumes that his wake-up call will be unpleasant, and LUCKY HIM: it is. And while he screams with terror, Riku dies with laughter. But aside from that, the stupid alarm clock Sora set woke them up thirty minutes late and they have to rush to get to school in time. And an incident occurs that make Riku and Sora blush with strange embarassment. Oh, and not to forget that Vincent witnesses it all. Next Chapter: IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK!!! (Yeah, and I'M the Tooth Fairy)
Oh, I also have something to ask from all of you; would like me to write Chained in Riku's POV? I mean, you guys wanna know how Riku's dealing with this, too, write? If a lot of you vote yes, I'll be updating Chained and Chained Reverse (Riku) together, so you're all going to have to wait for the third chapter of Chained until I update the first two chapters of Chained Reverse. I'll work hard. I promise. (big chibi eyes)
You never know; lots of reviews may get me to write faster. XD Reviews are highly appreciated and make Riku more evil and snarky. Snarky!Riku is awesome. HA HA (waits to feed Riku snarky power!review cookies) Please review?