A/N: It's me again! Okay, I give up. I'm gonna post this story whether you guys like it or not. So there. And no, I do not hate Sora.
Summary: It's the little things that hurt the most. Between love and duty is a decision he will regret for the rest of his existence.
Disclaimer Stupid, stupid bouncing check. I told him pyramiding won't work. So Kingdom Hearts still isn't mine.
VIII: Masquerade
"Selphie! Do you want to go to this dance or not!"
"I'm coming Vaan! Wait a sec!"
"Sorry, Kai," Selphie's older brother ran a hand through his hair exasperatedly. "Seconds to my sister are years to normal people."
"I heard that!"
Kairi giggled. It wasn't really years since she had sat there (well, the time it took Selphie to dress up) on the Arcadias' couch, waiting for Selphie to come down so that Vaan could drive them to the docks to the Destiny Academy ferrying service. She fingered her pearl necklace nervously; she didn't know what to expect at this dance, since this was her first time at one.
"Anyway," he said abruptly. "Why're you going as a princess? So cliché, Kairi."
"That's exactly my point, you see." She smoothed out her long skirt. "Everyone else thinks princesses are so common that nobody will even dare to wear one, so I'm the only princess at the dance!"
"You thought of that all by yourself..? Very good!" he said sarcastically, grinning at her. She threw a pillow at him and laughed. Vaan was known for being the complete opposite of his sister; he was totally laid-back when it came to Island-wide events like this. But his calm nature belied a ferocious fighter; he was bestowed the title of Paladin when he turned fifteen (fifteen? that was legendary in itself) and was one of the head Defenders during the Heartless invasion. And he was a local heartthrob.
"Hey, no smearing my best friend's makeup!"
"Wow, Selph, that's a record, it only took you about half a day to finish primping!"
She watched as Selphie practically hopped (Energizer Bunny! Go!) down the steps towards them. Kairi swore she could see Selphie quiver with excitement.
"So, whaddya think, huh?" She twirled around. "Think I got the history right?"
"Summoner?" Kairi raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah...lookin' for my Guardian!" She twirled around again, her dark blue skirt parting at the slit on the side. "World, here I come!"
"Whoa, whoa, Guardian or anything, no kissing, Selphie." Vaan said sternly. "And isn't that supposed to be only knee high? You're showing way too much skin, you'll end up---"
"Hey, read my history book, it says on page 327 the skirt's embroidered with star flowers and caught up with a thigh-high divide on the left side. It's what the High Summoner really wore. You should be glad I didn't wear her gunner dressphere, you know, the one with the hot pants and..." Selphie trailed off, giggling at the look on her brother's face.
"You know, Selph, that'd look great on you," Kairi smiled widely. "I bet all the guys---"
"Don't give her ideas, Kai." Vaan cut in. "Let's go already."
"Because big brother has a date, he doesn't wanna be late..."
"That's just hopeless, Selphie. Cut it out," he said quickly, blushing. "I told you, let's get going already."
"'Coz he asked Ashe out to dinner tonight...It's a night full of deliiight..."
Another pillow came Selphie's way as they followed her brother outside to the car.
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Riku sighed. Yes, he seemed to be doing that a lot of times lately.
"Uh.. later." He smiled weakly at the fifteenth girl to ask him to dance. Weren't guys supposed to ask girls to dance? Destiny Islands was a weird place. Not that the costume added anything, no it didn't. (Okay so maybe being dressed as a prince added something to the overall effect.)
"Oh come on Riku, don't be that heartless," Roxas said loudly, punching him on the arm. "That's like the millionth girl you turned down. This is why it's called a dance." Naminé nodded enthusiastically beside him, her angel wings bobbing up and down. (And he had to admit, she looked absolutely angelic. Blond hair, fair skin, white dress... what more could you ask for?)
"Have I seen you dance with someone?" he asked testily. Roxas grinned even wider.
"Whaat... do you want to dance with me?"
"Shut up, Roxie." He glared at the grin on Roxas' face which was seemingly present ever since the dance started fifteen minutes ago. The blonde shrugged and resumed toying with his hood's silver strings. Riku thought at least Sora's Nobody would be a bit more creative, but Roxas had come dressed as... what else? An Organization XIII member. (He was an Unknown, or so had he carefully and meticulously explained the moment he saw him.)
It was strange, the two Nobodies. Born of Sora and Kairi. They were just (honestly, these were just thoughts) a huge mistake, someone that was never meant to exist. Yet they were here, enjoying as if they really felt the joy. And Riku had the strangest feeling that Naminé had a huge crush on him (So maybe it wasn't entirely feeling; the rumor kind of spread like wildfire one day). He blinked. He had caught Naminé staring at him.
He grinned at her. She blushed and lowered her gaze. Touché.
"And I thought you were shy," Tidus was saying as he traced little spirals into Yuna's palm. "Why're you dressed as a genie...of all things..." (And he couldn't help but notice how Tidus' gaze flicked to the girl's bare waist, was that how really genies look like?)
"It's a costume party. It gives you freedom to somebody else, just for one night," she replied softly, watching Tidus play with her hand. "Pirate, huh?"
"Pirates are cool, you know, all that swashbuckling charm. Helps with the ladies." They both laughed. Riku rolled his eyes; if Tidus caught even one glimpse of the pirates cursed by Aztec gold he'd scream and most likely run into the other direction.
"Riku, you, tell me," Yuna asked him, " Why are you dressed as a prince?"
"Huh?" He shrugged as he tightened his ponytail (What? Princes always have long hair that they tie back.) and brushed hair out of his eyes. "I dunno. Was the only thing I had in my closet (True, so true)."
"You're lucky nobody else was dressed like that, ya?" Wakka added.
"Maybe they thought being a prince was so common that no-one wanted to be one."
"Hmm... got a point there, man." the orange-haired teen nodded to himself.
"Hey, Lulu, the candle's goin' out," Naminé pointed out, addressing the girl next to Wakka, who was dressed as a vampire (which, Riku thought, suited her), dressed in all black.
"Wind picking up," Lulu sighed before waving a hand, strengthening the candle's struggling flame. She was known in the Academy for being a Level 6 Black Mage at fourteen. She was only 2 levels more from being considered a sorceress (which was a good thing---History said that sorceresses were either executed or excommunicated from general public). And she was the only one Wakka had the guts to ask to the dance. "I hope it won't rain..."
"Oh, it won't," Roxas said confidently, draining his wineglass (which was filled with slightly spiked punch) and setting it down on the tablecloth with a dull thunk.
"Why not?"
"Look up."
Everyone at their table stared at the shower of brightly burning meteors tracing a path across the night sky. Soon everyone else had noticed the meteor shower.
"Oooh, falling stars!"
"So many wishes!"
Riku shook his head. Stars didn't sit too well with his memory. Take the paopu fruit, for example. He looked around the crowd's upturned faces, searching for the one who made the memory quite unpleasant. Not surprisingly, Kairi and Selphie had shown up late. Kairi smiled and waved at them as she and (summoner!) Selphie made their way through the tables while staring up at the meteor shower (girls and their amazing powers of perception. Go figure.).
His mouth fell open as he realized what the redhead had dressed as. A princess.
His princess...
----------
Sora shook his head violently and tried to exhale water at the same time. Why in the world did Kingdom Hearts always choose the ocean as a dumping (for the lack of a better word) site? He watched as additional meteors from the heart of all worlds splash into the water around him. As he gazed around he saw where Kingdom Hearts dumped him.
Of all the places. Destiny Islands. And not just the Main Island or the South Island.
The one island where all of this madness began.
He sighed and almost went under the waves (you try sighing and treading water at the same time) if not for the Sorcerer Nobody who held him steady with one of its magic cubes. He blinked.
"Wha---"
More and more Nobodies emerged from portals scattered all over the waves, each one jostling each other, it seemed, to help him. Nobodies weren't exactly known for their hospitality.
Just to make sure, he thought. He summoned his Keyblade, and, unsurprisingly, the Nobodies vanished. As the huge key (what? it essentially was one) flared to life in one outstretched hand he remembered something.
Oh joy. He had never sealed his own home world's Keyhole. His forehead wrinkled at the thought. How could he have been so stupid? Well, considering the fact that he was distracted with saving the known universe at said moment in time, it might be understandable. But no. He was instructed by a certain King never to endanger a princess of heart.
What the heck. Even if King Mickey didn't send him the stupid letter he'd protect Kairi with his life.
Said in stupid letter to seal any miscreant Keyholes out there. But he remembered this particular Keyhole was guarded by a Darkside (and even Ansem favored the place as a hangout, him and his black coat...waiiit, this is Xehanort we're talking about) and a whole lot of darkness.
He resigned to the fact that sooner or later he'd have to seal the Keyhole in the one place he knew he'd break down. He started swimming towards the island, forcing his exhausted legs to propel him forward, thinking of how he would be able to even hit a Heartless in his state.
"Drive!" he half-shouted into the night sky, laughing, his clothes glowing silver as he drove into Final Form. (Thank you Flora, Fauna and Merryweather) Why hadn't he thought of that earlier? Gliding was so much better than swimming. As he sped along the ocean waves (more like skimming), those orbs of light circling around his hair, he smiled at a random thought.
This would make a great Halloween costume.
----------
"Go!"
Cerulean blue eyes gazed up at her fearfully, her pale hands clutching her wineglass so hard her knuckles were white. "But... so many people..."
Kairi shook her head exasperatedly. "So?"
"But you're a people person..."
"And that changes...?"
"Seriously, Naminé can sing?" Roxas asked for the third time, staring incredously at both girls. (at which Naminé shot him a glare.) "Let's hear it!"
"B-but.. I've never even spoken in front of more that thirteen people, Kai..."
She smiled at her Nobody as she smoothed her skirts. Naminé was something like her complete opposite when it came to socializing with other people. "The principal's waiting over there," she said, pointing somewhere beside the makeshift stage. "Come on, Nam... it's just one song..."
"Yeah, Naminé, I want to hear you sing!" Riku grinned (and, Kairi noticed, the smile was stunning) as he leaned towards the blonde. She sighed resignedly as she slowly stood up and made her way to the stage, the other students (so mostly the male population) turning their heads to look at the angel walking past them.
Kairi winced as the microphone screeched to life in the principal's hands. "Ladies and gentlemen, I present Naminé Dalmasca."
Roxas catcalled, clapping his hands, his hood bouncing up and down (seriously, he should've thought of a better costume. What he was wearing now certainly didn't qualify as one because he was actually a member of the Organization) as the lights dimmed, the Materia glowing inside the lamps exuding a soft light (color depended on the lamps, violet, yellow, peach, you name it, they have it.)
She watched as Naminé squinted a bit in the spotlight's glare, the mike shaking in her hands. She mentally cheered her on, like the way she once usually talked with her Nobody.
Once. She shivered involuntarily as she realized something. She had not thought of a certain Keyblade Wielder this day. Or for the past few days, either. Not even once. And she realized she didn't care.
"I need more affection than you know..." Naminé had started to sing. It was a slow song, and people were starting to come down to the dance floor (and quite a few girls glanced hopefully at Riku).
Riku, for his part, looked a bit scared.
"What are you scared of?" she asked, peering into his face. The expression on his face was quite funny.
"I...I've never slow-danced before." He said in one breath, his face turning red.
Kairi giggled uncontrollably; the great Riku, varsity player, advanced student, Council President, didn't know how to slow dance?
"Stop it," Riku pouted. Which made her laugh even more.
She didn't know what came over her. Maybe it was the moment. Maybe it was the song. Or maybe she didn't like to be alone anymore. She stopped laughing and held out a hand to the boy in front of her, seeing the surprise reflected in his aquamarine pools.
"K-kai?"
"C'mon. You're not a prince if you can't dance, Riku."
"But, Kairi, are you sure about... you know?" He stammered, clearly shocked. Kairi knew that he knew she was...attached to Sora, and he respected their closeness. "This is like... cheating or something."
"It's just a lesson, Riku," She said loudly. "I want to teach you how to dance. You'd look kinda pathetic with girls if you don't know how. And so what if I dance with you? It's not like I'm committed to him or something..." (No, she wasn't, she prided herself on the fact the she never broke promises.)
He shrugged, flipping his cloak over his shoulder. "Aren't guys supposed to ask girls to dance, not the other way around?"
"You're admitting you're a girl?" She started giggling again as Riku took her outstretched hand. (notice how scarlet rushed up Riku's cheeks--and how scarlet rushed up his fangirls' cheeks in anger) "I'll teach you how to dance. It's kinda like how the Lion and the Angel met, remember?" she said, pulling Riku into the clearing (it was in the middle of the island forest) that served as a makeshift dance floor.
"Hey, I want a dance lesson, not a history one." He smiled back as he put his free hand onto her waist, the other gripping her hand tightly. (And now--- notice how scarlet rushes up Kairi's cheeks.) "Don't say I didn't warn ya, princess."
She looked up into his eyes, and noticed how they bored into her own. It was unnerving yet comforting at the same time. Riku always made her feel like that, even when they were with Sora. She placed a hand on his shoulder and pouted at him.
"Oh, prince," she said sarcastically. "Shut up and dance."
"My sanctuary my sanctuary yeah..
Where fears and lies melt away..."
----------
"Wish I could prove I love you
But does that mean I have to walk on water.."
Sora's head snapped up. He had just imagined hearing Kairi's voice floating on the air. Sometimes tiredness can make you hallucinate like that. Why, just a few minutes (okay, hours, more like) he had just heard Naminé sing.
"What I meant when I said no
I don't think life is quite that simple."
He glided along the path that cut through the Island's forest, humming along the imaginary tune in his head, the Oathkeeper and Kingdom Key floating behind him. He was actually happy he was hallucinating hearing Kairi sing. He was relishing her beautiful singing voice as he closed his eyes, floating along to where he remembered the beach was.
"You don't hear me say
Please oh baby, don't go..."
He laughed. Who knows where that song was buried in his memory. He didn't even remember hearing it before. Or maybe he just needed some sleep. That last Neoshadow could've done him in if it had the chance to strike before he ran through the door to the light. Yes, sleeping was the first thing he was going to do. After sealing the Keyhole, he'd go straight to the Castle That Never Was, unlock some random room and sleep until he couldn't stand keeping his eyes closed anymore. Then he'd think on what he had done (and get a splitting headache in the process) and how he did it. And if he's ever going to come back home. That gave him a headache in itself. He tiredly slashed the Soldier that jumped out in front of him from the dense shrubbery on the sides of the path, the Oathkeeper twirling madly under his fingers.
Music.
He instantly woke up, staring at the lanterns strewn in the trees along the grassy path. He wasn't hallucinating, he had just heard clear bars of music from somewhere round him. Lanterns? As far as he knew no Heartless in Destiny Islands carried lamps. Multicolored paper-covered ones at that.
"Are confusing me..."
The more he glided, the louder it got, and people's voices started popping up everywhere. He noticed that the dense shrubbery beside him wasn't just wild plants, it was a tall hedge. His orbs of light started to dance wildly around him as his heart beat faster, remembering that Destiny Academy held a dance every Hallow's Eve (or so Jack told him, Halloween came from that), but last time he hadn't been old enough to go (or anyone else, for that matter.) But why the hell hold one here?
"Wish I could prove I love you
But does that mean I have to meet your father
When we are older--"
He fought the urge to whoop as he noticed a pair of Defenders walking up the path. If they recognized him... well, he'd have to answer a lot of awkward questions. And face the consequences of leaving his friends and breaking a promise. Yes, he'd rather hide forever than face that. Sora quickly jumped and caught foothold in the hedge, vaulting to the top just as the pair walked past. He held his breath, praying that they wouldn't notice the balls of light hovering above his head. (If they were really top-notch Defenders, like Selphie's brother Vaan, in his exhausted state he stood no chance if they mistook him for a Heartless.)
Mercifully they continued on chatting. He sighed with relief as he steadied himself. The hedge, as he suspected, was very thick, more than enough to sit or even lie on. He carefully turned around lest he fall (it was a twenty-foot drop); land was still very solid even if you were floating one inch off it. Heck, even sitting he was floating on the hedge's top.
"Simple and clean is the way that you make me feel tonight---"
He almost fell off, recognizing Kairi on the stage. He was grateful that the one spot he picked to eavesdrop was in the corner; anywhere else the hedge was strung with lanterns.
"It's hard to let go."
Suddenly he was seized with the urge to jump off and just run to the girl he would have given anything for. His princess. (He smiled incredously, she was dressed as a princess) But knowing Kairi, she'd never forgive him for leaving again.
Stupid letter.
Stupid Wielder's duty.
Stupid light and darkness.
He let his gaze wander; with a pang of regret he saw Riku, the platinum hair standing out. He told Sora to follow his heart. Trouble was, he didn't know what his heart wanted. His mouth dropped open when he saw Roxas and Naminé sitting together with his friends.
"Regardless of warnings the future doesn't scare me at all
Nothing's like before."
His head started pounding again. Kairi's song suddenly seemed accusing. He found himself wishing he hadn't come across this dance, because the urge to scream was overwhelming right now. (And the urge to kill a certain mouse-eared King, thank you very much.) He winced slightly, using the Kingdom Key to steady himself.
"Whatever lies beyond this morning
Is a little later on--"
Breathing hard, he tried to concentrate on leaving as quietly (No one, even Olette, who was sitting directly below him, noticed him or the little trails of light his movements left behind) as humanly possible. The headache made thinking straight nearly impossible.
"Nothing's like before."
The song was down to its instrumentals, and Sora was down to his last reserve of energy. He berated himself for even thinking of tackling a Keyhole in his current condition. He tried to stand up.
Tried.
"Oh shoot." he muttered as he lost his balance and toppled inside the hedge's boundary. As he fell the music stopped. And he found himself locked in eye contact with Kairi Dalmasca. Her mouth was slightly open as they saw each other for the first time in months.
Hurt. That was her expression.
Then he crashed onto the ground, his Final Form saving him from becoming a pile of broken bones. Olette screamed. Then Lenne screamed. Then everyone else screamed.
"Heartless!"
He picked himself up and brushed off soil, his eyes frantically scanning for Kairi. The orbs circled him rapidly as he ran towards the stage, where he saw Kairi storm off a few seconds ago. "KAIRI!" He took out his Keyblades, effectively giving him a wide berth through the frantic crowd.
"Defenders! Surround and attack!" A cry came from behind him. "Protect the students!"
"I'm not a Heartless, damn it!" he yelled angrily, emotion giving him newfound strength. "I'm Sora Hikari! Leave me be! KAIRI!"
Kairi Dalmasca had vanished into the night. His heart plummeted to somewhere in the vicinity of his stomach. Strangely enough, he thought he could hear his antiform giggling madly.
"Kai!!"
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Read. Review. Are cliffies good or bad? And yeah, I'm thinking whether to make this and Nobody's Perfect a joint tragedy or happy ending...
Thanks for reading. Flamers go ahead, the page won't bite. (but Sora will... )