Chapter 8: Played like a Fool

Part II: No Pain, No Gain

When the day finally came to go to the beach, I made sure that I wasn't dressed my best. I intentionally wore baggy shorts over my bikini bottoms and a loose tank top over my top. I done my hair up in a messy bun and wore a worn pair of flip flops. Namine wore a white one piece but it was low-cut and the sides were out. It tied around her neck. My sis looked nice. Rikku wore a skimpy bikini. The bottoms were tiny and the top was like a strapless bra. They looked at me with disapproving faces when I joined them at the front door.

"Kairi, we're going to the beach you know," Namine said slowly.

"I know. My swim suit is underneath," I replied. They looked at me a little longer before they left through the front door.

We all decided that we'd take three cars to the beach. Since Tifa, Larxene, Tidus, Axel, and Fujin lived on the other side of the island they'd take Larxene's car. Namine, Rikku, Olette, Selphie, and me were going to ride with Riku because Sora had to pick up Demyx, Roxas, Seifer, Zell, and Wakka. I rode quietly and distracted myself by watching the passing scenery through my window. Rikku and Riku were having a little talk and Namine tried to ignore them but failed miserably. Olette fell asleep and Selphie was reading a magazine.

It took a good hour to make it to the docks where we had to rent three boats to get over to the other island. At this point everyone decided to choose who they'd ride with. Olette, Fujin, Selphie, Rikku, and I decided to ride in one boat. Namine, Larxene, Tifa, Sora, and Riku rode in another. The last boat held all the rest. Everyone was excited after about twenty minutes of paddling because the island's coast was in sight. As soon as we hit land, everyone went crazy and jumped onto the sand creating massive pandemonium. I took my time and walked leisurely. The beach wasn't as crowded as it was normally and the resort was closed for renovations so there wasn't anything besides us. A couple of vendors had set up shop though.

We set up our beach towels and umbrellas a little ways away from the tide. The boys started to set up a volley ball net as the girls proceeded to lather themselves with sunscreen. Like moths to the flame, the boys disregarded their work in favor of crowding around to watch. I didn't bother to put on any sunscreen, instead I pulled on my shades and laid on my back letting my umbrella shade me from the sun's harmful UV rays. I started to close my eyes in content when a shadow cast itself over me. I looked up and saw Demyx staring down at me.

"Aren't you gonna put on any sunscreen?" He asked. I blushed and sat up.

"Uh… no. I wasn't planning to actually…," I said slowly. He didn't seem to notice my tenseness and instead he sat down beside me.

"Need some help putting it on?" I rolled my eyes.

"Didn't you hear me? I said I wasn't going to wear any."

"Yeah right and risk getting sun burnt? Stop being so modest Kairi. Here, I'll help." Before I could protest, he had skillfully removed my tank top to expose my yellow bikini top. Throwing it aside, he pulled the shorts off next and revealed my panty-like bottoms. I felt extremely self conscious as he proceeded to rub lotion on my back. His hand was warm and it moved slowly. His face was full of concentration and I blushed embarrassedly when I saw that everyone started to watch us. His hand moved to the front and he applied a generous amount on my collar bone and around my exposed cleavage where his hand seemed to stall for a moment.

"Uh… Demyx… I can take it from here…," I murmured. He didn't seem to hear me because he was entranced by my breasts so I tapped him on the shoulder. He jumped from surprise and looked at me as though he was winded.

"Huh?"

"I said I got it. Thanks." I took the bottle of lotion from him and started to rub some on my arms. He lingered a moment seemingly trying to comprehend what was happening. After he got his bearings straight, he got up, saw that everyone had been watching, and said, "What are you people doing just standing around? This is supposed to be a party!" That got everyone back to doing what they had been doing before. Demyx left to help the rest of the team put up the net. I watched him feeling a little uneasy. I finished applying the sunscreen and then I gathered my discarded clothing. I wanted to cover myself back up and disappear.

"Hey Kairi." I looked up and saw Larxene smiling down at me. Ugh.

"What's up?"

"Nothing really. Those moronic jocks over there want to have a volley ball tournament and they sent me over to ask if you wanted to play. So, do you want to play?" I looked over at my friends. They were talking trash and I distinctly made out Wakka's voice saying, "Yeeaah, it's pay back time for crashing our practice that one time. Prepared to get OWNED!" I laughed but then I noticed Demyx looking at me expectantly and I shook my head.

"No… I'm fine here." Larxene gave me a look. I looked back at her.

"What?"

"… You're still socially retarded even though you've been welcomed to the popular crowd with open arms," she stated bluntly. My mouth opened, but I didn't say anything. Instead, I hugged my legs to myself and rested my chin on my knees. I shrugged.

"Just because I start to hang out with a couple of kids… it doesn't make me any different Larxene. I'm still me… just… noticed…" She lingered a moment longer.

"Yea, but I've seen you lately. You haven't been like this since Seifer's party."

"Whatever. Why pay that much attention to me anyway? Were you scheming something or what?" Larxene backed away absent mindedly and I looked at her meaningfully. She knew what I was getting at. Huffing angrily, she kicked sand at me and stalked away. I watched as she joined Namine's team.

Rikku, Riku, Zell, and Axel were on a team. Sora, Namine, Larxene, and Tifa were on a team. Demyx, Wakka, Tidus and Selphie were on a team. And Olette, Fujin, Roxas, and Seifer were on a team. I grinned. At least without me in the picture the teams broke even.

The first teams to play against each other were Rikku's and Olette's teams. They played a fierce game because Olette and Rikku were very competitive females. At first the whole team had been involved but after they matched up in scores, Olette and Rikku just used their teammates to play the way they needed to in order to win. I wasn't surprised when they tied. For a tie breaker, they had to do paper, rock, scissors, which turned into a competition in itself. For every one missed, they asked for the benefit of the doubt.

"Best two outta three?"

"Best three outta four?" So on and so forth. The girls had to be put in check so they let Roxas and Riku go at it. Of course Roxas lost. Olette was furious but she didn't fly off on a handle. Like a good sportsman, she gave him words of encouragement.

The next teams up against each other were Sora's and Demyx's. I could see from where I sat the fierce competitive force the two had against each other. I thought it was weird. They played on the same team for Pete's sake. Maybe… I didn't want to sound vain but… perhaps it was something to do with me.

The game started off the way Olette and Rikku's game had. Everyone was having fun and then all a sudden it got serious. It happened after Demyx spiked the ball right at Sora who missed it. Sora was angered and he got Demyx back by hitting the ball at him so hard that Demyx couldn't get it back up in time and it dropped. The score tied and it was plain to see that the two boys were playing to win. With every score made by Demyx, Sora scored two more. It was intense and when I thought it would take forever to reach twenty-five, Sora spiked it and it hit Demyx in the head, which caused Sora's team to get that last point.

"Foul! That's a damn foul!" Demyx exclaimed. After exchanging high fives with the girls on his team to celebrate their victory, Sora looked at him angrily.

"What the hell are you bitching about?" He asked. His voice was controlled but his face was scrunched up in an angry scowl. Demyx went up to the net and got in Sora's face.

"You know that shit doesn't count! It hit me in the head! You don't get points for that!"

"The hell I don't! It's in!"

"No the hell it isn't! I want a redo!" Sora sighed.

"Fine. I don't see what difference it makes…," he said. Getting back in their positions, Sora was handed the ball and he served. The ball hit Demyx in the head again.

"That's it you little bitch!" He yelled. He rushed at Sora and Sora rushed back at him. Sora socked him in the eye and Demyx tackled him into the sand where they proceeded to wrestle. Everyone watched in awe and then the rest of the boys tried to pull them off each other. I laughed to myself. It was just a game…

After the fight, the volley ball tournament was cancelled and Namine suggested they all do something less competitive and more friend oriented. She suggested chicken.

"Riku, wanna be my partner?" She asked. Everyone looked shocked by her question. Riku smiled coyly and wrapped an arm around Rikku.

"No thanks. Rikku's my partner." Rikku blushed shyly, and Namine glared at the both of them.

"Sora?" Sora was wiping blood away from his lip and he shook his head.

"What the hell??"

"I'll be your partner," Axel stated. Namine looked at him with distaste and cried, "Forget it! Shit!"

Larxene suggested that everyone play truth or dare. No one had any problems with that and my friends forced me to participate. The feeling in my stomach worsened and I tried to avoid eye contact with Sora and Demyx.

"Okay, anyway. Who goes first?" Rikku raised her hand excitedly.

"Alright. Rikku, truth, or dare," Larxene asked.

"Dare!" Larxene smiled evilly and said, "I dare you… to make out with Zell." Namine smiled and exchanged a five with her friend. Rikku's upper lip curled and Zell blushed shyly. After a few minutes of nothing, Rikku finally pulled the boy close to herself and kissed him. Everyone gasped and whooped. I covered my eyes finding that I was embarrassed for her. When they finally finished, Rikku's face was red and so was Zell's.

"Who…Who's next?" Rikku asked. Riku raised his hand.

"Uh… truth or dare?" Rikku questioned.

"After that I'd have to be stupid not to choose… truth." Rikku grinned a little and asked, "Okay. Tell the truth. Do you like me?" Everyone's gaze shifted to Riku who sat nonchalantly, arms crossed.

"Uh… yea. Yeah I do actually," he answered.

"Whoa!"

"What the hell?"

"What kind of game is this?"

"Oh shit! Rikku and Riku? That's funny!"

"Awwe! Adorable." And so were the comments made by my fellow teens. Namine and Larxene both exchanged incredulous looks and Namine growled. After everyone settled down Riku asked, "Who's next?" Namine's and Selphie's hands went up. Riku looked like he was carefully debating between the two and said after much deliberation, "Uh… Selphie. Truth or dare?"

"Dare! And I better not have to do anything perverted."

"Now come on. Where's the fun in that?" Tidus remarked. Riku laughed and said, "Fine, I dare you to tell everyone what happened to you and Tidus the weekend before last." Selphie and Tidus faces turned a deep red color.

"Uh…"

"You don't have to do it Selphie!" Tidus cried. She ignored him and covering her face with her hands she said, "We… got drunk… and… after we fell asleep… someone stripped us of our clothes and… when we woke up… we thought… that we had done it…"

"Hahahahahaha! That's dirty! Who'd do such a thing?" Axel interjected.

"It was you, you ass hole and that shit was not funny! She thought she was preggers you moron!" Tidus cried. Everyone laughed, even Tidus and Selphie. I failed to see the humor in it. That could have really messed my friend up.

"Anyway… who's next?" I couldn't believe the game was still going. Sora, Demyx, and Wakka raised their hands. Selphie looked around at all of them and said, "Truth or dare Sora?" My heart beat rapidly. I looked at Selphie and saw that she had a mischievous glint in her eyes. She glanced at me, grinned, and then turned her attention back to Sora who said, "Dare."

"I dare you… to… uh… give Kairi… I dare you to French Kairi!" Everyone broke out in hysterics. Namine looked at Selphie and cried, "What the hell kind of dare is that!? Change it right now!" Sora looked at me. I felt my chest tighten. He came over to me and our peers "oohed" and "ahhed" in obvious anticipation about what was going to transpire between us. I studied him and could tell he was enjoying it. I couldn't help but grin subconsciously. Everyone whooped and hollered like a group of maniacs as they watched us. I blushed a little and tried to not let my feelings get the best of me as he pulled me closer. He put a finger under my chin and forced my head upward to meet his lips that gently grazed mine. I couldn't believe that he was actually going through with this even though Namine and Demyx weren't sitting two feet from us. What was worse, I couldn't believe that I was allowing it. Why was I allowing it? He was wrong. So wrong and… He nibbled on my bottom lip temptingly. I didn't notice how close our bodies were until I felt his rock hard abs against my stomach. His skin was rough, yet smooth and I sighed. He kissed my lip gently and then he parted my mouth with his tongue and proceeded to French me mercilessly. I couldn't think. My mind was all jumbled up. Nothing else mattered but him.

People gasped, others swooned, and some started chanting, "So-ra! So-ra!" After seductively licking and sucking on my lip, he was finally done. He pecked me gently on the lips before hesitantly pulling away from me. My lips throbbed deliciously from Sora's mercilessly rough kiss and I touched them with the tip of my index finger. I was in awe. We looked at each other, but before we spoke, all his friends jumped him, ruffling his hair and giving him hell. Namine looked at me with a strange expression on her face and Demyx watched us with fury in his eyes.

"Okay. Okay that's enough dammit!" Everyone looked at Demyx and he looked at his hands, embarrassed to have lashed out that way.

"Uh… I'm hungry…," he mumbled lamely.

"Yea me too. This game takes a lot outta ya," Sora agreed mockingly. They glared at each other, but Olette interrupted and said, "I'm hungry too!"

"We better get this soon- to- be mother some food before she starts eating us," Roxas stated, "We'll continue this after lunch." Everyone agreed and then we settled to eat lunch. I wasn't really hungry, but Olette ate my share of the food we packed. She was really wolfin' it down like she hadn't eaten anything in ages. Roxas watched her awestricken and Fujin shook her head disapprovingly. I didn't notice Demyx sneak up on me, but he sat down beside me and cuddled me into his strong embrace. The hair on my neck stood on end when he whispered in my ear, "Come with me real quick. I wanna show you something…" My friends watched us with interest. His voice was odd. It almost seemed… like it was devoid of emotion. I was scared to meet his gaze so I didn't, but I nodded in compliance. Not too gently, Demyx pulled me up by the arm and guided me away from the picnic and my friends.

I noticed right away that he had led me a great distance from my friends. My palm was sweaty in his hand, but he didn't let go. When we came to the other side of the island Demyx stopped walking and so did I. He didn't say anything but turned around to meet my gaze, which I reluctantly kept.

"…Close your eyes," he ordered softly. I gave him a look.

"Trust me Kairi," he said and I did. He grabbed both of my hands and began leading me in another direction. The further we went, the louder the sound of rushing water became. I felt a little nervous. Why would he take me to where some rapidly flowing water was? I felt him stop and by instinct I did as well.

"You can open 'em now," he stated. I waited then I opened my right eye then the left. What I saw was breath taking. A waterfall and lush vegetation surrounding it. I swooned happily and went closer to it. It was very aesthetic and I reached out a hand to touch the cool water. A nice sensation crawled up my spine and I looked at Demyx who was watching me with a smile on his face.

"It's beautiful," I claimed. Demyx nodded.

"And the good thing about it is that I think I'm the only one that knows this place exists."

"Lucky us then!" He chuckled. We were silent and the musical sound of the water fall filled the emptiness. Demyx's face took a melancholic look and I knew why he looked that way. I reached over and cupped my hand on his cheek. He blushed and turned his face from me.

"Demyx… it didn't mean anything… that kiss between me and Sora…" I felt him tense at the sound of my words and slowly, very slowly, he looked at me from the corner of his eye. I felt a sharp pain hit my stomach and I sighed.

"It was just a stupid dare…," I mumbled.

"… Then why'd you let him do it Kairi?" His voice was harsh and it made me flinch slightly. I took my hand away from his face and it lay at my side. Why had I let him do it? Why had I let him kiss me at all? It was wrong… wasn't it? He was my sister's boyfriend for cryin' out loud! But… even though… I mean… despite that…

"It's because you still care about him. No matter how much you try to deny yourself. I mean, you can't just turn those feelings off Kairi. You can't help who you love and that's one of the really irritating things about it," Demyx said. I could hear the raw emotion as he spoke each word.

"But…"

"Take it from someone who knows. I mean… I know that you care about this other guy but I still… I still…" He couldn't finish his sentence and I saw that he was overcome with his emotions as he walked passed me to observe the waterfall. His back was to me and I just stared at the back of his head. I felt bad. He really did care about me. He still cared even though… I gulped and went to him. I touched his shoulder, but he didn't seem to realize it.

"…I… I care about you too Demyx. I do… that's why… this is so hard. But regardless of my feelings for Sora, I always chose you in the end…" He looked at me. His eyes full of hope.

"Kairi…"

"And… that's why I guess I wanna make this work because… I know Sora and I probably never will…" Without warning he grabbed my wrist and pulled me closer to him. I felt my heart rate increase.

"Wha…?"

"I don't want to be your second choice Kairi! If you really want to be with me then be with me! If you really care, then give me something that Sora hasn't touched… something he can't have…" His grip lessened on my wrist and I looked into his eyes.

"Demyx…"

"Give me… your soul," he finished. I felt my face scrunch up in confusion. He ignored it and pulled me closer.

"Sora can have your heart, your love, but I want your body Kairi. I want to be with you the way no other guy has been with you. If you truly care about me the way you claim, then you owe me this." I could feel my cheeks heat up when I figured out what he was talking about. He wanted my body so that he could have my soul, the only thing that Sora hadn't touched. He wanted us to become one… I pushed him away and covered my mouth. He wanted to sleep with me! He was forcing me to sleep with him in order to prove that I cared about him. I did care about him right? I looked at him and he had that same look on his face that he had the night we had almost… Wait. If I was willing to do it then, then why not now? Besides, Sora didn't love my sister, and yet they slept together. Was sex and love really interconnected or could you really have one without the other?

I knew this was above my head and clearly out of my understanding so I settled for wanting to do the right thing. And after all the pain that I had put Demyx through, I rationalized that he deserved what he was asking for. At least… I didn't think he was asking for much anyway… My cheeks burned more as I became even more frazzled with my inner debate. Demyx stepped to me and placed his hands on my shoulders. I looked up into his eyes and he looked back into mine for a split second before kissing me softly on the lips. I still wasn't sure about sleeping with him, but I let him lay me down in the lush grass where he began to assault my upper body with continuous hot kisses. His hands roamed my body hungrily and I felt myself grow hot. He nibbled at my neck then bit it. It burned and I gasped but he licked and kissed it to sooth the slight pain he'd caused. He used his body to part my legs and then he lifted my legs around his waist with his hands. Trailing them up my thigh, he groped my butt and then put the tips of his fingers underneath my bikini bottoms.

I felt overwhelmed. I didn't know. I didn't know what was right or wrong anymore. The pleasurable sensations filling my body with his every caress didn't even seem right. Sure I liked how he was touching me and kissing me… but I didn't like why he was touching me. I didn't like him on top of me. I didn't like what he was doing. I tried to think of something else as he slowly slipped the bottoms off. My mind wandered aimlessly and then I remembered Sora. I remembered every time he kissed me or fondled me. I liked the way he touched me and how he touched me. It felt right… even though politically speaking it had been so wrong. Just the thought of him caused my heart to flutter and I closed my eyes. When I opened them I thought I saw a mass of brown, spiky hair in the bushes. As though spotting my eyes on it, I saw it make its way out of the overgrowth and then outta sight. My eyes widened.

"Sora??" I cried. I didn't notice Demyx look at me. Realizing my mistake, I flushed with embarrassment and looked at my boyfriend who was now getting up from on top of me. He seemed pissed, but he remained calm as he pulled his swim trunks back on. I was confused for a moment before realizing that the sex wasn't happening and then I reached for my bottoms and put them on as I stood up. Neither of us spoke.

"…So. He even has this too huh?" Demyx said bitterly. I rubbed my arm, unsure of how to respond.

"I kinda always knew I'd never have you, but… I still felt the need to try at least. Now I see that I was foolish for even thinking that! Its obvious Kairi… who you've chosen. You don't want me…"

"… I'm sorry…"

"I don't want your pity!" He spat.

"… What do we do now?"

"Now? Now I'm going back to the party… as a single guy." I looked at him then.

"You mean…"

"Kairi! I really don't see why you're so surprised! I can't take Sora's place! Nor will I be used as a substitute in order to do so. Anyway, it's over," he said huffily. Glaring at me one last time, I nearly fell over when he pushed pass me and stomped away back towards the way we came. My heart hurt and I stood there dumbfounded.

When I finally went back to the party, everyone was playing truth and dare again. Everyone was there except Sora. I felt my cheeks burn. Had he really been there? I thought what I saw was just a figment of my imagination spurred on by the extreme stress that I had put on my mind when I was trying to get a grasp on what was happening. I didn't join the game but instead sat on my beach towel and thought to myself.

I was so immersed in my thoughts that I didn't realize that I'd fallen asleep. My sister was the first person I saw when I woke-up. Yawning, I sat up and stretched.

"What's up Namine?" I asked as I rubbed the sand from my eyes. I was too drowsy to notice the tears glistening in my sister's eyes.

"It's time to go…," she said. Her voice cracked and I looked at her. She wouldn't meet my curious gaze but turned her back on me. I gathered up all of my things and followed Namine back to the boats we used to get over. It was quiet and I saw that her shoulders were squared with tension.

"Ne'? What's the matter?" I asked. She stopped walking and looked at me. She just stared at me for a few moments with her tear stained, blue eyes. She opened her mouth as though she was about to speak but then closed it again when no sound came out. I watched her, suddenly very frantic.

"Namine?? What is it? Did someone hurt you?? What happened??" I asked. I dropped my large bag which held my things and took my sister by the shoulders. She could only look at her feet. I saw crystalline tears drip down into the sand below her.

"…You're the girl… aren't you Kairi…," she whispered. I had to strain my ears to hear what she said. But even after realizing what she said, I didn't understand it.

"What are you talking about?"

"…The one that Sora really cares about… the one he was using me to get to… is you…isn't it?" She said a little more loudly. I felt myself blush. She raised her head and looked me in the eyes. Her jaw was squared and her face emotionless. It was as though she was preparing herself for some big disappointing news. I didn't know what to do. I was caught.

"Namine… it… he… No."

"Don't lie to me Kairi…" I ground my teeth together and inhaled a large breath.

"… Yes. I am…"