Seifer tried to wrap his mind around the idea of Kingdom Hearts. Just hearing about it made it seem like some sort of twisted fairytale. Kairi, a Princess of Heart? Sora, the Keyblade Master? And Riku…
Really, disbelieving would be easiest, but Seifer remembered years ago, when the shadows seemed to move, and white creatures danced around them. Sora had come to their rescue, carrying a large key-shaped blade. He never asked about it, since the creatures disappeared, and everyone returned to their lives.
Sometimes, rumors spread, and people would talk in hushed voices when Sora walked by, but nobody elaborated or confirmed the stories.
The stories sounded like ones a madman would make up. Yet Seifer couldn't shake the idea that everything Riku said was true.
Seifer sighed, intending to just relax until he felt sleepy, but a knock on the door interrupted him.
Riku sighed, tempted to hit his head into a table or wall. How could he have been so stupid to admit all those things to Seifer? He figured that maybe, if their relationship really did escalate, then maybe he would talk about the events from the past. Even then, it would have sounded entirely insane. In fact, just thinking about it seemed insane, and Riku had indeed been a part of it.
His side throbbed a bit. "I'm an idiot," he said.
"Why?" Kairi asked, entering with two cups of tea.
"I told Seifer. Everything. About Kingdom Hearts."
Kairi blinked a few times, then put the cups down carefully. "What possessed you to do that?"
"I don't know," Riku moaned. "He just asked me, and it all came out once I started. I know he saw some Nobodies, and he knew something was going on."
"Oh Riku…" Kairi sighed and pat one of his hands.
"Maybe I'm just not meant to have a relationship. Maybe I…hey!" Riku raised his hand as Kairi continued to smack him with her notebook.
"Don't you dare think like that, you idiot!"
"But it could be true," retorted Riku. "Stop it!"
When Sora entered the kitchen, Kairi finally stopped hitting Riku. The small, lopsided smile informed them something was wrong.
"Sora?" Kairi said simply.
Sora rubbed the back of his neck, and gave a small laugh. "Look, uh…don't get angry…"
"Nothing starts with that and ends up good…what did you do this time, Sora?" asked Riku.
"Well…see…me and Ven kinda talked…"
Riku's eyes widened. "No…Sora, don't tell me you told Ven about Seifer…"
"I swear that I didn't mean it to be a bad thing!" Sora said, his voice a near whine.
Kairi shook her head. "Well, we'll just talk to them and tell them everything's okay…"
"Is everything okay?"
Three pairs of eyes turned to look at the doorway. Riku felt a stab of pain as he looked at Ventus, the blonde reminding him of Roxas and all the things that happened because of the Organization. Behind him, a woman with blue hair stood, smiling at them. Kairi ran to the woman, the two usually proper females practically squealing as they hugged.
"Where's Terra?" Riku asked, immediately noticing that the brunette was missing.
This time, Ven looked a bit sheepish, rubbing the back of his neck. "About that…"
Seifer raised an eyebrow as he opened the door to reveal a young man, several inches taller than him, waiting for him, his arms crossed. His dark hair was spiked in the back, and his blue eyes did not waver a bit as he stared at him. Seifer immediately noticed the man's muscles. He was a fighter.
"Can I help you?"
"My name's Terra. I'm a friend of Riku's."
Seifer studied the man. Terra stood about a foot taller than him, and his arms were muscular. He wore baggy pants, but he wore a tight t-shirt, showing off more muscles. The man looked like he could break him in half. Seifer was almost envious.
"If you've come here to threaten to rip my balls off, I've already heard it."
Terra's eyebrows shot upwards, a slight dusting of pink appeared on his cheeks. It surprised Seifer a little; he figured a looker like this would act far less…innocent.
"Well, actually, that's not exactly what I wanted to say…"
Riku practically tore through the streets, the others, except Kairi, managing to steadily follow him, but just barely. Plus, he had a head start.
A slight frown marred his face as he saw both Terra and Seifer walking out. Sheer terror seized him when he saw Seifer carrying a gunblade.
"What the hell are you two doing?" he yelled, the sound making several birds fly up and away. The street was eerily quiet after his outburst, and he thought he saw several eyes on the group.
"Duel," said Seifer with a shrug.
"Oh, how sweet," came Kairi's voice as she slid off Ven's back. "But don't you think that's a bit old-fashioned?"
"What are you talking about, Kairi?" exclaimed Ven.
"Fighting for Riku's hand, duh."
The words made Riku's cheeks warm, though ice crawled down his back at the idea of Terra trying to get his attentions too. Ven dispelled the idea quickly with the words, "That's silly! Terra and I are going out!"
Nearly everyone looked at Ven, who blushed at the sudden attention. Seifer rolled his eyes.
"When did this happen?" Sora asked, his eyes wider than normal.
"A few months ago," Terra said, his face the shade of beets. "Anyway, I'm fighting him to see if he's even got what it takes to protect you even a little. We don't want a repeat of…events," Terra finished, hesitating at the last few words.
"I already know about Kingdom Hearts, if that's what you're talking about," Seifer drawled.
Terra blinked at the news, then nodded. "Good. Then I really don't have to hold back."
A keyblade appeared in Terra's hand, and Seifer took a step back, studying the blade.
"Wait! You can't do this. It's too dangerous!"
"Relax," replied Seifer, slipping into a fighting stance, his knees slightly bent, gunblade at hand. "We're not going to break anything. You ready, old man?"
Terra sliced the air once. "Show me what you've got."
Seifer hated to admit defeat. That was part of the reason he always practiced. But when Terra charged him, he found out quickly that Terra was a master.
Each powerful blow was calculated to hit him at his weakest moments, and he felt like he fumbled to defend himself. He noticed that Terra moved slower, though, so he backed away for a moment, realizing that he would have to change his strategy.
Terra gave him little time to recoup, once again attempting to hit him, but this time, instead of meeting the slash, he ducked under it and quickly twisted around Terra. The move seemed to surprise the older man, even as he blocked Seifer's own attack, but a small smile appeared on his lips with a barely there nod of approval. Seifer didn't give himself time to preen.
Seifer kept trying to move quicker than Terra, moving, twisting and even jumping to get behind the older man. He managed to get a few good swipes, but even he had his limits.
The sword fell to the ground, and Seifer eyed it for a second, deciding whether he had the time to grab it. He tried anyway.
He almost wished he hadn't, too. Terra grabbed one of his wrists, yanked him around and slammed him into a tree. Seifer groaned.
"Terra!" he heard Riku snap.
"You did good for an inexperienced brat," said Terra softly, letting him go.
"Thanks, I think," Seifer replied, rubbing the side of his face. He jumped just a little as he felt something wash over him, and the pain disappear. Riku punched Terra in the arm.
"What the hell is wrong with you? You're supposed to be the adult!"
Terra rubbed his arm. "I am. I'm being the over-protective father."
"Threatening him with a fight is one thing! Fighting him is completely different."
"He's a pretty decent fighter, Riku. Anyway, I wasn't going to seriously hurt him."
Riku huffed, glaring at Terra, before punching Seifer in the arm. "And you! What the hell were you thinking?"
Seifer glared right back. "Proving to you that I can help you if you need me, duh."
"I don't need your protection," snapped Riku.
"Nobody asked you. It's just something I do," Seifer replied, standing his ground.
Riku opened his mouth to reply, then lifted his hands to the sky. "I give up!"
