Disclaimer: We don't own KH, blah, blah, and blah.
Author's Note: We're really sorry for the wait, guys. Keys is still in school and finding collaborative time sucked. Okay, the truth is we held on to this chapter for a while ( a couple of months) because we weren't sure how satisfied we were with it but then we decided "what the hell, let's post it". Sorry, but we didn't do reviewer responses this time because we were definitely crammed for time but we read every single one and I definitely loved the bunny of inspiration that Corrosive Moon sent us, yay! We promise to do reviewer responses next time. Thanks also to those who put us on their favorite list or their story alerts list.
Thank you to all of our reviewers, to those of you who have supported us along the way and continue to
Roxas had gotten tired of waiting for Sora to email him back. In fact, he had gone beyond worry and concern and straight to angry. He had already emailed his brother five times! And while Sora could be somewhat lackadaisical, he was never thoughtless or insensitive, which meant either Sora was in trouble or about to get in trouble, neither of which Roxas was comfortable with.
So Roxas had cut his last two classes of the day (with Hayner's promise to cover for him and give him the homework assignments later) and had hopped the train to Radiant Garden in order to track down his errant brother. It wasn't that he didn't trust his brother to be able to handle his own messes…but well, yeah, actually pretty much that was it. Sora was the type of guy to draw trouble to himself even when he wasn't looking for it, often because he was helping someone else who had gotten into trouble. This usually left Sora to face the consequences, or rather, left Roxas, and sometimes Kairi, to get Sora out of having to face them.
And now here he was, in Radiant Garden, in one of the largest cities in the world, and he had no idea where he was going or how to get where he wanted to go. Twilight Town was nowhere near this size nor did it have this many people, and Destiny Islands, well, the largest township there was small enough to fit into Twilight Town three times over.
He looked around the marketplace where he had wandered, at the tall stone skyscrapers that blocked the sun's fading rays, at the stores with overly pricey and often gaudy displays as well as the stalls filled with every kind of fruit and vegetable imaginable and tried not to feel overwhelmed. He didn't like being around this many people at the best of times but it occurred to him as he examined the busy streets with its milling people meandering about, that this was exactly the kind of city that would appeal to Sora, with his exuberant nature and boundless energy. Roxas couldn't help feeling for the first time that his brother's decision to come to Radiant Garden and his own to attend Twilight Town Academy were the first steps leading them on different paths.
Roxas shook off the thought and was set to ask one of the stall-keepers where he could find his brother's school when he was suddenly accosted from behind, a hand having reached out to grip his forearm and he was turned around to look into the greenest eyes he had ever seen on a human.
"Well, hello there. Are you lost, blondie?" The feline smile that graced the young man's lips made Roxas realize where he had seen that expression before. There had once been a black cat that had roamed his neighborhood, and despite the number of people who had tried to catch it, who were more than willing to give the stray a home, the cat had eluded and often outwardly disdained any attempts at domesticating it. At the time the local pet shopkeeper had received a shipment of baby chocobos, bright yellow and cuter than anything Roxas had ever seen. Roxas had helped to unload them as part of one of his many summer jobs and while he was unloading one of the carts the cat had snuck into the open truck bed, had somehow managed to pry open the one remaining crate with teeth and claws, and had eaten every last chocobo inside. The cat had worn the same expression as the older boy standing in front of him. Roxas could practically see the feathers hanging from his mouth. It was therefore with wary eyes and a suspicious tone that he said, "I'm looking for Radiant Garden Academy."
And the green-eyed young man smiled again. "Weeell, isn't today your lucky day?"
Axel was cutting class for the second time in a row that day. He couldn't see why anyone would ever want to be in a stuffy and uninteresting classroom when they could be in the middle of a city like this one, where anything you wanted or desired could be found for the right price and, if you negotiated well enough, you could sometimes get something for nothing. If anyone knew how to negotiate, it was Axel. He knew the city like the back of his hand, knew where the best strip joints were (both male and female), every night club catering to every taste, where to get the best liquor, and the best drugs. Likewise, he also knew of the more mundane and legitimate areas of the city; where to get the tastiest sushi, to buy the most expensive shoes at wholesale, or where to get the coldest iced-vanilla frappuccinos.
This knowledge had helped him to know when something or someone was out of place, and the cute, no, adorable, blond boy standing in the middle of the marketplace, turning circles as he looked up at the tall buildings in front of him with a scowl on his face, was definitely out of place. And Axel was just the one to help him find it. As he approached him, he ran his eyes up and down every inch of the petite boy's body and a purr-like humming welled in throat. Oh yes, I'll definitely help him find his place. In bed with me would work juust fine. The blonde's back was to him, and he reached out his hand to grasp the other's forearm, turning him around as he graced him with a smile.
"Well, hello there. Are you lost, blondie?"
For a moment the younger boy gaped at him and his big blue eyes went wide but the naked surprise on his face was quickly replaced by wariness and his brow furrowed as he said, "I'm looking for Radiant Garden Academy."
Hmmm. The eyes are familiar…and that face, where have I seen one like it before? Axel couldn't help smiling again at him as he replied, "Weeell, isn't today your lucky day?"
At that, the other boy's eyes narrowed and he said, "No, not really. I have a feeling that any day with you in it wouldn't be lucky for anyone."
Axel's eyes widened at the response but he couldn't help the startled laugh from escaping his lips. "Well, aren't you a feisty one? Fortunately for you I like my, hmmm…friends…feisty. So how about it, want to be friends?" This one might take some work. Goody, finally a challenge.
The young blond's face didn't soften as he answered, "What I want is to find Radiant Garden Academy. If you can't help me do that then I have no use for you." He turned his back on Axel and began to walk away and the red-head was startled into grabbing the younger boy's forearm once again. He let go when the other growled in response and yanked his arm away.
Axel held his hands up in a conciliatory gesture as he said, "Hey, hey, hey, I didn't mean to scare you."
The blond's glower deepened as he ground out, "I'm not scared."
"Well, okay then. Do you want me to get you to the Academy or not?" Axel asked, starting forward and looking back at the other boy to follow.
The blond was motionless for a minute before he asked, "You really know where the Academy is? You aren't just screwing with me?"
The red-head couldn't help his lips from curving at the question. You have no idea. I haven't even begun to screw with you. He then set his face into an outraged expression as he asked, "Hey, have I done anything yet that would make you not trust me?"
"Yet is the operative word in that sentence. And I asked you a question. Do you know where the Academy is or not? My brother Sora goes there and I'm just here to see him."
Axel's eyes widened at that piece of information and he scrutinized the blond in front of him with the knowledge in mind. The heart-shaped face, the build and size are similar…but this one's eyes are harder than his brother's. Sora's definitely the more innocent of the two…but this one…yes, this one is definitely more to my…taste…
"Sora, huh? I know a Sora. Cheerful brunet, big blue eyes, about your size?"
The younger boy's eyes widened. "Yes, that's him. He's a Second Year at the Academy. How do you know him?"
He smirked. "Didn't I tell you? I'm a Fourth Year there." The other boy gave him a questioning look as he glanced around the marketplace before raising an eyebrow. Axel got the hint. "I was simply…taking an extended lunch."
The blond rolled his eyes at that before he said, "Name's Roxas."
"Axel. A-X-E-L, got it memorized?"
Roxas shook his head and rolled his eyes again as he said, "Wow, that has to be the lamest introduction ever! Well, are we going or not?"
Axel gestured to Roxas, motioning with his arm for him to follow as they started down the street. "So, are you here to watch your brother duel?"
Roxas stopped and his eyes narrowed as he asked, "Duel?"
Sora stood with his sword propped against his thigh and adjusted his black fencing gloves which ran halfway up his forearm where they were met by the thin material of his under armor. The under armor that hugged his upper body was a blue two shades darker than the color of his eyes and went from neck to wrist before ending at his hips where it was tucked into a pair of navy blue tight fitting breeches of the same material, a heavy but very thin Kevlar and polycron material made specifically to withstand the piercing of most blades. The breeches bagged at the knees where they were tucked into heavy black boots which ran up his calves to just below his knees.
Sora looked around at the arena, measuring it with his eyes. The piste, or playing area, was fourteen meters long and two meters wide with the standard center line dividing the piste in two. Two meters from the center line on either side were the en garde lines which marked where each fencer would take their beginning positions. The spacing ensured that with the fencers' arms straight and their blades in line that the points of the two blades would normally not make contact, however modern fencing allowed for sizes of blades to vary and therefore blades would often cross even from the starting on guard lines.
Classic fencing rules were more restrictive than modern fencing, which allowed for a greater degree of freedom in movement and technique, especially with the invention of potions, hi-potions and elixirs. Modern fencing was a bastardized version of itself mixed with martial arts, including karate, taekwondo, aikido, and many other disciplines, depending on which kind of instruction the fencer received. Classic fencing rules had been put in place to ensure safety above all else, but with the advent of new healing methods, such precautions were not as necessary, and therefore modern fencing permitted the use of a larger range of fighting methods.
Sora glanced up and around the arena and saw that the stands were beginning to fill with overzealous students eager to witness the downfall of Riku's latest victim. As the bleachers filled with an increasing number of students, Sora realized that he had never felt so isolated before. He missed Kairi and Roxas in that moment more than ever and his longing caused a fierce ache to lodge itself in his chest and he was forced to close his eyes tightly before taking a deep breath and letting it out again.
The pressure in his chest relaxed a little and Sora took another calming breath before he glanced up and saw Zexion enter through the heavy double doors to the right, his head down, and hair hanging heavy in his face. He looked over at Sora, giving his normal unreadable expression before it was broken by the upward tilting of his mouth, and had that been a wink? Sora's mouth fell open for a minute before he recovered and returned the wink with a pert salute of two fingers to the forehead while grinning slightly. Zexion's presence made him feel slightly better and he knew that at least one person in the audience would be wishing him luck.
His mood buoyed even further when he noticed who Zexion sat beside and Sora met the piercing green eyes of Axel who smirked slightly at him before giving a little wave. In addition, he noted the presence of Demyx who appeared to be, even from Sora's vantage point, avoiding Zexion's gaze. As if feeling Sora's gaze Demyx looked up and his face broke into a broad grin before he waved frantically, wobbling slightly on the bleacher seat before righting himself, his grin becoming somewhat sheepish, and Sora grinned back, his mood elevating further as the earlier feeling of isolation left him.
Sora suddenly felt a tap on his right shoulder and turned to face whoever it was. He gaped as he found himself facing Roxas. The abrupt disorientation he felt at finding his brother standing before him so suddenly after he had just been wishing for his presence caused Sora to freeze before he awoke from his stupor, ignoring Roxas's glowering face in order to grab him in a tight embrace that caused the blond to squeak in sudden surprise before he grudgingly returned the hug.
"Roxas, what are you doing here? How…how did you get here?" he said into his brother's blond spikes, his arms tightening around his shoulders.
Roxas pulled away after a moment and cast him an amused glance and his mouth twisted sardonically as he replied, "I flew here with my invisible bat wings. Idiot. Of course I took the train."
Sora grinned widely at his brother, feeling suddenly jubilant before he finally noticed Roxas's glowering expression.
"Um, Roxas, what's the matter?" Sora asked hesitantly. He knew what that particular expression meant. It was the look that said he was neck deep in shit and Roxas was going to make sure that Sora knew it.
Roxas's teeth were noticeably gritted when he replied, "What the hell do you mean 'what's wrong'? You haven't answered any of my emails; you've apparently been lying to me by keeping the truth from me about what's really going on with you. Then I meet that red-haired freak who tells me that you've stirred up a hornet's nest by antagonizing the most popular boy at your school, who also just happens to be the best dueler, over the honor of your best friend…Kai, was it? Or should I say Kairi?" His mouth once again twisted sardonically. "Where is she, by the way? I would've thought she'd be here, trying to get you to see some sense."
Sora's head was bowed with guilt and chagrin over his brother's tirade. It did sound bad when Roxas put it that way, but surely he had good reason for his actions. He tentatively met Roxas's eyes with his own, an apology naked in his gaze as he replied, "I don't know where she is. She left me a letter telling me that she's left school, but I'm worried. It's really not like her to just leave like that. Especially with the duel and all. I think something happened but I don't know what." Sora's shoulders slumped for a moment and then he felt Roxas place a comforting hand on his shoulder before he responded.
"I'm sure you're right. Kairi wouldn't leave you if she had a choice. But I'm sure she's fine. You know Kairi; she 's pretty good at landing on her feet despite her femme fatale appearance."
A glimmer of a smile appeared on Sora's countenance before their exchange was interrupted by the opening of the side door. He had to struggle not to let his improved mood deflate as the double doors opened to present his nemesis dressed head-to-toe in black, and at his back were Tidus, Seifer, Squall, and the brawny auburn-haired kid that Tidus had told him was his best friend, Wakka. Tidus smiled faintly at Sora before giving a slightly sarcastic wave. Sora nodded his head in acknowledgement, his lips curving in response to the unspoken rebuke of Tidus, who had told him briefly over the phone that he thought Sora was a "complete fucktard" for getting into the duel in the first place.
He knew Tidus wasn't the only one with that opinion, and Sora's eyes briefly locked with Squall's before he deliberately turned away to look back at Riku. He couldn't afford to get distracted now. Even so, he watched out of the corner of his eye as Squall headed toward the bleachers behind Wakka.
Roxas watched all of this with a faint frown but his eyes rested intently on Riku, who he knew to be his brother's opponent from the way he was dressed if not by the arrogant way that he walked, as if he owned the school.
Unlike the rest of his companions who had headed for the bleachers, Tidus on the other hand approached Sora, walking in his quick strut toward Sora where he leaned in to whisper in his ear, "Don't worry, I got some hi-potions, an elixir and even a phoenix down. I nabbed 'em from my dad's stash, so, you know, in case anything happens…" he trailed off.
"Thanks," Sora said wryly, shaking his head slightly before sighing.
"Hey, you know I didn't mean to….um, it's just that I've seen Riku duel before and he's—"
Sora cut Tidus off. "Good, yeah, I know, I heard."
Roxas made a noise in his throat at the exchange, having caught the gist of the conversation. Riku had to be really good to have caused the level of concern that Roxas could see reflected in the other's blonde's eyes. Tidus turned to look at Roxas, offering a nod of the head in acknowledgement before turning back to Sora who sighed once more before he looked at him and smiled.
"Really, thanks, I appreciate it."
The blitzballer smiled and patted Sora's back uncertainly whispering, "Good luck" and headed toward the bleachers where Wakka and Squall were sitting.
Seifer, who had been trying to listen to Tidus and Sora's whispered conversation, made it a point to stand in front of Sora and sneer down at him before muttering "chickenwuss" under his breath. Roxas took a step toward Seifer in response, standing in front of his brother and glowering into the taller boy's eyes, not backing down even when Seifer moved toward him.
"Who the hell is this?"
Sora spoke up. "My brother, Roxas."
Seifer sneered and said harshly, "Just what we need. Another chickenwuss."
"Seifer," Riku called from where he was standing, having noted the exchange. Roxas turned toward the silver-haired boy and for the first time Roxas locked eyes with Riku. Roxas did not like what he saw. Something in his gaze caused a shiver of apprehension to run through him and the dread increased as he watched Riku's eyes fall on Sora. He couldn't put a name to what he saw in the gilt-haired boy's eyes but he knew that whatever it was didn't bode well for his brother. This was not somebody his innocent brother should be fucking with; he could see that with only a glance. For the first time he felt truly apprehensive about the upcoming duel and he purposely made a movement to draw Riku's attention back to himself and away from Sora. Riku stared back with narrowed eyes, neither of them willing to break from the staring contest until a movement from Seifer caused Roxas to turn back toward him.
Seifer was still sneering down at him when he said, "We'll see how proud you guys are once Riku has wiped the piste with your pretty faces."
"You want to bet on that?" Roxas asked.
Seifer's eyes widened in momentary surprise before he laughed out loud, his guffaws echoing through the arena. "You really think your pipsqueak of a brother is going to beat Riku? Sephiroth's son and heir losing to this…this shrimp!"
Roxas's eyes widened at that news and he turned toward his brother for confirmation. Sora's expression was sheepish as he shrugged and his hand went to the back of his head, messing up his spikes as he rubbed his hand through them.
Roxas rolled his eyes at the familiar gesture of chagrin and he muttered, "Geez, Sora. You sure know how to pick 'em. Can't do anything simple. No, it always has to be the hard way."
"Hey!" Sora exclaimed in protest, but it was a weak protest and they both knew it.
Roxas turned back to Seifer. "I'll bet you that Sora kicks Riku's ass."
Seifer smirked and said, "How much you wanna bet on your pansy of a brother?"
Roxas returned the smirk and said, "A thousand munny."
Sora gasped at the amount and exclaimed, "Roxas, what are you doing? That's your savings!"
The blonde glanced back at his brother replying, "I know. Just means you'll have to win, doesn't it?"
Sora gaped at him before his mouth shut and he gazed back at his brother before a smile appeared on his lips. "Fine. But I get half."
Roxas narrowed his eyes again. "A quarter."
"Half," Sora responded instantly.
"A third," Roxas responded.
"Half," Sora said again.
"Forty percent and that's my final offer."
"Deal." Sora said and Roxas reached out his hand to his brother as they shook on it.
Seifer, having watched the exchange muttered under his breath, "fucking nutcases". He turned to Riku who had also been watching the exchange with a distant unfazed look and asked, "You want in on this?"
Riku smirked, and he gazed at Sora for a moment with sudden intensity before he shook his head at Seifer's inquiry.
"I'm already going to get what I want."
This reply caused Sora's face to flush hotly and Roxas immediately took note of it, scowling at Riku before turning back to his brother.
"What is he talking about, Sora?"
Sora avoided meeting his brother's eyes, fidgeting as he murmured, "I'll tell you later. You should go find a seat. The duel is gonna start."
Roxas knew his brother was keeping something important from him and he was frustrated at Sora's evasions. He had made the bet, knowing that Sora fought best when something was at stake, and without the presence of Kairi, for whose protection the duel had originally been set, Sora hadn't appeared to have anything to fight for. Now it appeared that that wasn't the case and that there was more to the duel than he had been led to believe.
Roxas hesitated and then looked at Sora narrowly, grasping his brother's arm as he spoke. "You'd better win."
Sora smiled at him and said, "I will."
"Don't forget what I taught you. No holds barred, okay? Promise?"
Sora's eyes brightened at the familiar exchange. "Promise," he replied, his smile widening.
Roxas's body relaxed. Sora always kept his promises and if he said he was going win then he would. He nodded at his brother and headed toward the bleachers where Axel was gesturing to a seat next to him. He blew out a breath of exasperation but headed toward the red-head nonetheless.
Sora turned his attention back to his opponent and he examined Riku's form. He had to admit, even from his deservedly biased and unfavorable viewpoint, that Riku cut a striking, and yes, even beautiful figure as he strode toward the piste, his torso clad in a polycron and Kevlar vest that left his arms bare but was obviously heavier than Sora's under-armor.
Sora had decided to forego heavier protection in order to retain greater quickness and range of movement, and it looked as if Riku had decided likewise, because even though his vest was heavier than Sora's shirt, the nakedness of his arms would allow for the same range of movement that Sora was hoping to achieve. Riku's long legs were encased in black breeches tucked into boots, which extended past his knees to reach his upper thighs. His right hand held his sword loosely by his side, encased in a black polycron glove, and Sora narrowly eyed the blade Riku clasped.
Unlike Sora's sword, which was long and thin in the classic sabre style, Riku's was shorter and wider, the hilt and pommel long and sculpted, as if made to specifically fit Riku's hand, but having no hand-guard which was standard to most blades. Instead the deep blue hilt widened into a circular design made uncomfortably to look like an eye, complete with a turquoise tiger-eye gem surrounded by a series of rectangular white stones that manifested into teeth. This design lengthened and narrowed as it reached the base of the blade which had the appearance of a bat wing or more apropos, a demon wing for all of its coloring, the midnight blue blunt edge forming the base of the wing where the "fingers" extended to the sharp or cutting side of the blade, the blood-red webbing in between each finger spread wide to form the rest. On the whole Riku's sword was one of the most menacing blades Sora had ever encountered in his young life, and that included his mentor's, which had been nothing to shake a stick at.
Riku noticed where Sora's eyes had landed and couldn't prevent his customary smirk from forming on his lips. He knew that his sword was intimidating and silently thanked his father, who, although the biggest and most manipulative bastard he had ever known, still had faultless taste in weaponry, especially when outfitting his son. On the other hand, heaven forbid his son ever use an inferior brand of sword!
Riku looked at his opponent's sword still propped against Sora's thigh and frowned slightly. Now that was a surprise. Riku didn't know what he had been expecting, but the elegant strip of metal clasped in Sora's right hand was not it. He could tell that the quality of the sword was superb, even in comparison to his own blade, the scroll working and superiority of the metal readily apparent.
Riku couldn't help but wonder at how a scholarship student (he had discovered this information once again through the very reliable source of a certain office aide by the name of Jenna…uh…Jayda, something like that) could afford such a weapon, but he was distracted from his musings by the equally puzzling appearance of Sora's gloves. Sora was wearing not one, but two fencing gloves. It was customary for fencers to wear only one glove on their attacking hand but perhaps he wore the other for added protection, which was not totally unheard of, although it did make the wearer appear somewhat squeamish. Riku smirked again at this thought.
Sora noted the smirk but ignored it in favor of preparing himself mentally for the upcoming duel, his breathing steady and even, his mind clearing of anything but his opponent, the clamor of the students in the stands fading to an indistinct buzz.
"You ready?" Riku asked condescendingly and Sora nodded tersely, his eyes studying Riku's posture, his stance, and the way he held his sword.
"Let's do this," Sora repeated his words from an hour earlier, taking position behind the en garde line, and Riku mirrored his movement standing behind the opposite line across from him.
"The first person down or disarmed wins," Riku reminded him, and Sora agreed once again with a curt nod of his head. Normally matches happened in three minute periods and the person who either scored fifteen points or with the highest score within that three minute period won. In tournament play, the winner of two out of three sets won the match but as this was a duel and not a judged and scored match, those rules didn't apply.
Sora stood straight, planting one foot in front of the other, feet apart and pointed outward and brought his sword up so that the hand-guard was adjacent to his chin, his sword held vertically, and Riku performed likewise, both simultaneously swinging their swords outward in a quick slashing motion that was the customary salute of a match, signaling its start.
Sora met Riku's eyes, and Riku smiled at him, genuinely smiled at him, not smirked, and Sora was so stunned by this that he almost had his head removed from his shoulders as Riku swung his sword in a quick arc before whirling away. Sora managed to duck and step back simultaneously as he regained his footing, looking back into Riku's face and yup, there was the smirk again, and Riku laughed.
"Let's see what you got, kitten," Riku teased, circling him, and Sora's right hand tightened on the hilt before moving toward his nemesis.
"The name is Sora!"
Sora came at Riku swiftly, his sword swinging in a sweeping arc that Riku managed to easily dance away from. Sora looked up at Riku and noticed that the confident smirk was still plastered to his face. He's not taking this fight seriously. Sora felt his temper flare hotly as he readied himself to attack Riku.
"Hey Riku, you're the one who wanted this!" Sora's face tightened before coming at the older boy, jumping gracefully into midair in a twisting flip, skillfully bending, before his violently swinging blade met Riku's in a clanging spark of fury. Riku's dark blade didn't quite meet Sora's in time leaving his left side open as Sora's blade grazed his arm easily, tearing through the skin in a manner that if it hadn't been for modern healing remedies, would have required stitches and which left a trail of crimson blood that flowed freely down his arm. The tip of Sora's blade was now thinly coated in a deep red.
Riku felt the deep burning sensation tingling down his arm, dulled by the adrenaline now coursing through his veins, and as he looked into Sora's eyes he noticed the seriousness of his expression. He hadn't planned on making this a real duel; he hadn't wanted to damage his soon to be plaything, but maybe things would be more entertaining this way. He could afford to indulge himself, couldn't he?
Riku charged at Sora, bringing his sword down powerfully in an arcing wave of red and black feeling the repercussion of the blade course through his arm as Sora met the blow. Riku pressed down, hard, cat-like eyes staring down as Sora's knees buckled under the pressure of his blade, their swords clanging in sparks of white and midnight blue.
Shit, he's strong. Sora thought as he widened his stance as Riku steadily began to press forward, causing Sora's knees to shake with the pressure and weight of the blade forcing itself against him. I have to get out of this before he crushes me.
Sora stepped away, bouncing nimbly off the balls of his feet, just narrowly missing the cut of Riku's blade, his agile form performing a one-armed back handspring.
Riku smirked, noting that what Sora lacked in brute strength, he certainly compensated for with speed; unfortunately for Sora, that wouldn't be enough to stop him. Riku jumped into the air, his left hand placed palm first, before he twisted his left side to add more power to the swing of his right arm, his blade whipping smoothly through the air, coming down heavily on Sora in a round of rough rhythmic strokes that increasingly beat Sora back, almost falling into the run back.
Riku thrust the point of his blade, slicing through the fabric of Sora's under-armor, plunging through forcefully, not managing to cut, but throwing off his form, and raised his blade for a powerful blow. Sora just barely managed to balance his form in time to catch the tip of Riku's blade, mitigating the blow, but not suppressing it completely as it sliced through Sora's chest, a long stripe of red now carved into his upper torso.
Riku gazed meaningfully into Sora's pained gaze and questioned him mockingly, "Is that the best you can do, Sora?"
Bastard! Sora put out of his mind the pain circulating in his chest, the deep cut left forgotten as an angry cry fell from his lips and falling back onto his left hand, he bounced rolling under Riku's left side, turning so he faced Riku's back and catching him by surprise, he slashed his arm out quickly, his sword ripping through the air as Sora felt his blade graze Riku's back and side, unable to fully penetrate the armor of his vest. Damn.
Riku cursed himself inwardly at having been caught by surprise as he recovered and assessed the jump-turn that Sora executed swiftly to escape his counter slash attack, the adrenaline pumping through his veins as he moved in a quick run towards Sora re-engaging him in another round of quick combos that clanged noisily through the fencing arena.
Riku and Sora were still managing to perform quick thrusts and parries, even though the strain in doing so must have been immense, the agility and endurance necessary to execute such movement incredibly difficult. Sora jump-slashed at Riku while Riku dodged and spun away quickly before countering with a powerful kick to Sora's torso that he obviously hadn't been expecting. Sora fell to one knee.
Sora was struggling more and more to keep his movements even, his breath coming in harsh pants as he wobbled quickly to his feet, where Riku had driven him to his knees for the second time. He could feel sweat sliding down his neck and stinging his eyes as he swung away from another slash from Riku, designed to keep Sora off-balance and he flipped away, this time narrowly missing the thrust, hoping desperately to gain some ground to recover slightly but Riku was relentless in his assault and came at Sora once more.
Riku's reputation was definitely well-earned. Sora had known Riku was good but he had never really thought about what that had meant until now. He could say in all honesty that he had never met anyone who was as quick on their feet as Riku, or as quick-thinking.
It was all Sora could do to defend himself now, and Riku knew it. The older boy could see his opponent's imminent defeat in the weakness of his blows, and the heaviness of his breathing. It was all but over and Riku moved forward, determined to end it now.
Sora's breath was wheezing in his chest, his arm felt heavy and trembled with every collision of his blade with Riku's, his heart pumping so fast and strong he could hear it, like a heavy drumbeat, ba-boom, ba-boom, ba-boom, echoing harshly in his ears.
Sora defended himself on instinct now, and he knew he was on the defensive, that if this kept up, Riku would win. Riku was obviously an endurance fighter, his movements designed to wear out his adversary. In a movement that seemed to emphasize this, Riku suddenly came at Sora in a quick feint to the left which put Sora off-balance before starting a series of thrusts, one, two, three, four, five, Sora lost track of the number as his right arm nearly gave out under the pressure, which seemed to increase with every hit of Riku's blade against his own.
Sora was driven one more time to one knee as he struggled to get to his feet, but Riku advanced and their blades crossed, Sora still partly propped on the ground, feeling desperate in his need to rise but knowing that Riku was not going to give him the chance, he could see it in his eyes, see that Riku wanted to end it now.
In a move he knew was going to take the last of his energy, Sora struck at Riku with all of his might, his blade hitting solidly against the other's, gaining just enough ground to somersault backward, and when Riku stepped forward to meet him, Sora switched his sword to his left hand and struck out, his blade hitting the pommel of his opponent's sword and Riku cried out involuntarily as the blade left his hand, flying through the air, blade over hilt, in a sort of slow-motion movement that ended with a clang on the playing field floor.
And then all was silent.
Zexion stood on the outdoor terrace that was connected to the second story balcony that overlooked the fencing arena. He had abandoned the bleachers down near the piste after the duel and had come up to the balcony which was usually meant to accommodate important administrators and faculty while the terrace provided a place for cigarette breaks and opportunities for social discourse between matches.
Wandering back inside from the terrace and looking down, he saw that the bleacher seats were now empty as the whole of the student body had poured down onto the fencing area after Sora had managed to miraculously disarm Riku. It was peaceful here, the sounds of the students below muted, and he peered outside where the sound of birds chirping was beginning to peter out as the sun's light began to fade and the moist scent of the castle stone drifted in. Here he could find peace away from the sweating mass of people and the excitedly inane chatter of students. He couldn't help a slight twinge of annoyance as he again peered down at the swarm of youthful humanity below. They were all lemmings, where one went the others followed. Why can't they follow each other off a cliff?
Sora had managed to beat Riku. Riku was to be feared and respected, and he had kept his reputation not only because of his infamous family lineage, but because he was the best. He was intelligent, devious, and ruthless, with the natural athleticism that his father was purported to possess in spades. His father had seemingly passed those traits onto his offspring and this was evident on the dueling field. No one had ever defeated Riku.
The duel had been a close call and the crowd had sweated rings as the fencers sparred, feinted, and hacked at one another in their attempts to break through each others' defenses. The victory could have easily gone to Riku. Zexion himself had thought that Sora was going to lose, and if Sora hadn't been able to switch wield…Zexion smiled bitterly at the memory.
Yes, he was happy that Sora had won, but he had also been surprised, even though he was sure that the feeling was a pale imitation of the surprise that Riku had felt if the look on his face had been anything to go by.
After Sora's abrupt defeat of Riku, the audience had been silent, and no sound had broken the stillness but for the hum of the soda dispensers and the buzz of the lights above the arena. Everyone's eyes were on Riku's keyblade, lying like a forgotten and broken toy on the rubber piste, its blade glinting dully, as if it had somehow sensed its own defeat. No one had moved and even Sora, who was normally a bundle of untamable energy, had been frozen, still half kneeling as he looked up at Riku.
Riku had been the first to move, and he had slowly approached Sora, who just stared up at him, like a deer who had almost been hit by an oncoming vehicle but whose driver had managed to brake just in time, and he had held his hand out to Sora, who had looked at it strangely for a moment, before grasping it and using it to pull himself to his feet. Riku had then leaned down and had whispered something in Sora's ear before striding over to his sword, picking it up and quickly taking leave, his group of lackeys trailing closely behind.
The slam of the arena doors had put an end to the eerie silence, as the crowd had roared in simultaneous amazement and glee, and a new hero had been born. Sora hadn't even seemed to notice the crowd of students that had started to gather around him but instead had worn a tired but satisfied expression, as if some painful weight had been abruptly lifted from him. And as everyone around him gave him congratulatory pats on the back, ruffled his mane of spikes, or put their arms around his shoulders in laudatory acknowledgement, each person had radiated a smugness that spoke of some kind of personal accomplishment, as if they had been the ones fighting the duel, not Sora. Those that didn't wear that particular expression excitedly and loudly claimed to have known all along that Sora would win, that they had supported him one hundred percent. Zexion snorted at the thought.
Sora had made quick use of one of the hi-potions that Tidus had given him and had started making small talk with those around him. The atmosphere of the arena had been stifling, and although Zexion had wanted to wait around for Sora, he hadn't felt comfortable in the closed environment or the by the proximity of so many people. He would have to meet Sora later, preferably after his come-lately supporters had departed.
Zexion wandered back outside onto the terrace, still contemplating Sora's win and the reaction of the crowd but was shaken out of his musings by the voices he heard in the corridor that lead to the balcony.
"Yeah, this is the only place he could be!" Zexion couldn't quite make out the voice. Was it a lemming?
"That makes sense. Zexion is a private person." Zexion immediately recognized the voice as Sora's and couldn't help the automatic start of surprise at the thought that Sora was seeking him out.
Zexion then heard a loud crash. Demyx. It has to be. No one else causes those particular sounds of disaster.
"Oh, was that a flower pot!? My bad! Hee hee!" Zexion immediately came to attention, masking his surprise with his usual indifferent expression.
Demyx then came into view with Sora trailing just behind him.
"I knew we'd find you here, Zexion! Gosh…it was so tough to get through that crowd. Sora was trying to be all polite and stuff about it, but when he noticed that that stupid guy elbowed me and that you, like, disappeared…he immediately grabbed me to come chase after you!"
Sora sheepishly scratched the back of his head.
"Yeah, sorry about that, Demyx. I'm just glad we got out of there. I mean, I'm glad that every body's happy and all but…I wanted to see you guys. Well, most of all I want to thank you. You guys were the first friends I made here and I know what people were saying about me, so it was nice to know that I had some people who believed in me!" Sora finished this with a bright sunny smile at both Demyx and Zexion.
Demyx made quick work of pulling Sora to him and lifting him off his feet into the air in a warm hug.
"H-hey, Demyx!" Sora whined, his face formed into an obviously fake pout belied by the twinkle in his eye as he struggled to pull away from Demyx.
"Awwww! I knew you could do it Sora! It was obvious from the start, and I don't see why people couldn't see it. Why are you thanking me anyway? If you hadn't come along I would probably still be getting bullied by Riku…and I also wouldn't have been able to become…" At this Demyx slowly lowered Sora back to the ground and met Zexion's eyes in a penetrating gaze before looking down as he continued. "Uh, I mean, I wouldn't have been able to become friends with either of you, so…yeah" he trailed off, a slight flush on his cheeks.
Zexion felt like a big jerk. He should have waited in the arena. He had hoped Sora would win, and he was shocked at himself at the degree to which he felt that hope, but he had attributed it to the tentative optimism he always seemed to feel in the presence of Sora and he had tried to keep it as he watched Sora battle against his adversary. Nevertheless as the duel had continued and Sora visibly became more and more fatigued, the ephemeral feeling had faded, and he had begun to have doubts and then finally to believe that Sora would lose.
It had seemed to Zexion upon reflection that the duel represented more than it was, that Sora himself embodied the antithesis of the ennui that often plagued him, a joie de vivre Zexion had never known. Expect the worst and hope for the best had never been a motto he had ascribed to, simply because that hope didn't exist for him, had never, not until a spiky-haired brunet, along with an exuberant blond had wormed their way under his skin.
He had met Demyx because of Sora and somehow he knew that he would always be indebted to Sora for that because Demyx had, by some unknown means, engendered in Zexion sensations that he thought he was incapable of feeling. Not only that, but he hadn't believed it possible for him to actually make friends at this school or anywhere else for that matter. However, Sora and Demyx had begun to make him believe differently. He was therefore flooded with shame at his lack of faith in his new friend, although on some level he understood that it would take time before he would be able to fully repudiate and undo a lifetime of pessimism, as much as he wished otherwise.
Sora was honestly one of the nicest and most trusting people he had ever met. He wasn't like the typical hypocrites that Zexion had encountered his whole life, who spouted out values that they could afford to vow belief in only in so long as it suited the comfortable world they lived in.
"Hey—Zexion!" Demyx waved his hand in front of Zexion's face.
"Uh, hey you guys? I have to go. My brother's waiting for me and I kind of left him with Axel. He didn't look too happy about it," Sora said with a grimace.
Zexion couldn't handle it anymore as Demyx embraced Sora in another hug that Sora once again squiggled to be free of.
"Come on De—"
"Demyx, release Sora," Zexion commanded. Demyx let go of him, a slightly bewildered expression on his face as he looked back at Zexion. Zexion again felt like a jerk at the expression of hurt and confusion he had caused to be reflected on Demyx's face but if he had to stand here and watch Demyx embrace Sora one more time…Well, he couldn't be held responsible for his actions. He knew Demyx didn't feel like that about Sora, still—
Zexion shook his irrational thoughts away then made his way over to Sora and he couldn't help the rare smile that came to his face as he looked down at him and said, "We'll see you tomorrow, Sora."
Sora could tell Zexion was trying to give him a chance to escape from the clinging arms of a certain blond and he accepted the gesture gratefully, beaming a quick smile over his shoulder at him, and Zexion acknowledged the gesture with a quick nod.
"Sure, see you guys tomorrow," he said and quickly made his way down the corridor leading to the stairs.
Demyx watched Sora leave with a sigh. No buffer. Now he was alone with Zexion. Maybe if he was fast enough he could…
"Demyx, don't even think about it," Zexion warned, his words coming out in a slight hiss.
Okay then, never mind. Plan A was done for. What about Plan B? Did he have a Plan B? No? Well, he could improvise. That's what genuine artists were good at.
"Uhh…I have to go back to my room too?" Shit. Even he could tell that the wrong punctuation had come out on that one. As if he was asking for permission. He should've been more decisive, more sure of himself. He was never going to get away with that kind of uncertainty around Zexion. And really, was that the best he could come up with? Well, Demyx wasn't going to give up now. How about Plan C? Hmmm, that one might take more thought, though.
Zexion stared at Demyx who was obviously debating something in his mind, and the pensive expression on his face caused Zexion's heart to melt into a puddle of mystery goo as he couldn't help thinking about how cute Demyx was when he was trying to puzzle something out, even if that something in this case was how to escape from him. He sighed inwardly as he stared at Demyx's pursed lips and furrowed brows. The sun was just now starting to set, darkness casting a light array of shadows on Demyx's contemplative form. Was it really that bad being alone with him?
"Demyx, I'm not going to bite." Well…not unless you want me to. Shit, he really needed to stop thinking like that. Patience, he reminded himself, he requires lots of patience. I can hold out. I think. Shit.
"We're still friends, right?" This was the safest route to take, to solidify his place in Demyx's life, even if that was through friendship rather than the more lustful and romantic relationship he really wanted. He would get there, by fair means or foul. Hopefully fair though, as he didn't want to alienate Demyx in any way that he could help. He also could see that Demyx was the type to avoid conflict so he would have to approach any issues he might have with Demyx tentatively.
"Of course we're friends!!" Demyx put his hands on his hips as if outraged by the very nature of the question.
"Well then, why are you trying to run away?" Zexion posed the question with a slightly raised brow and a tilt to his head and Demyx's expression narrowed, his face set in a scowl as he responded.
"What?! Where'd you come up with that one? Jeez Zexion, you don't have to be so paranoid…I mean…I totally wasn't trying to run away. He, he, he," chuckled Demyx, trying to finish off his lie in a half-hearted laugh that he hoped was convincing. He was such a terrible liar and Zexion couldn't help calling him on it.
"I don't like liars, Demyx."
Zexion saw the torn look on Demyx's face and almost felt bad, but it had to be done. Demyx was the type who liked to please but if he really wanted to make Zexion happy then he would just have to be straight with him.
Zexion crossed his arms and waited…one…two…thr—
"I'm SORRY! I mean, I was trying to run, but only because you make me all like…and I was a total idiot with you…and then whenever I'm with you…I really suck at this so I was trying to spare you…yes…that's it...self-sacrifice!" he said loudly, gesturing wildly with his hand.
Zexion raised his own right hand in a placating gesture.
"Calm down, Demyx. Now, start by explaining to me why you ran from me earlier today, and why you still want to run, then we'll go from there." Zexion leaned casually against the balcony's stone balustrade, the darkness of twilight casting shadows across his pale visage.
Demyx walked toward Zexion, coming closer in order to lean on the on the cool stone as he fidgeted uncomfortably under Zexion's gaze. Well, I might as well be honest.
Demyx felt his heart race and his throat close tight as he looked at him. Zexion was always so calm and collected and didn't have a problem articulating his thoughts and Demyx in that moment thought to himself in a brief wave of despair that he was the exact opposite. He tried to order his muddled thoughts into a coherent stream, his mouth opening and closing for a moment before he managed, "Well…" He paused and looked at Zexion for reassurance.
"Well?" Zexion prodded, his eyes staring piercingly into Demyx's own.
Demyx didn't know what to say. His throat had clogged up, and to be honest being around Zexion was making him sweat. It was cool outside, so why was he so uncomfortable? His stomach was acting strangely too. Was he getting sick?
"I don't know what I'm doing, and you're a guy. Guys…are different from girls, and I don't know what it means to be in any kind of relationship, much less one with a guy. Yeah, I've imagined what it would be like but I've never actually really considered it as a possibility. It was like an unattainable dream. You were like an unattainable dream and now…now it's here…you're here," Demyx gestured towards Zexion, "…right in front of me, and I don't know what to do." Demyx averted his face downward, his shoulder slumping against the stone at his back. "Zexion, tell me what to do."
Was that an invitation? Zexion inwardly shook his head at the thought. He didn't want to take advantage of Demyx, he wanted to protect him. He didn't want to decide for Demyx.
"I can't decide for you Demyx. I like you for who you are, not because you're male. Then again, I've never really cared much for what's considered socially 'normal'. I know that you're somewhat indecisive by nature and that it may be tempting for you to let others make important decisions for you, because you're scared of making the 'wrong' choice. Your entire existence is reflected through those choices."
Zexion came closer, lifting his hand to raise Demyx's chin so that he was forced to meet his eyes. "You are unsure of me and of the situation. I can understand that kind of thinking more than anyone, but at the same time, you realize what this means, don't you, Demyx?"
Demyx could barely focus as he stared into Zexion's sharply penetrating gaze. No one had ever looked at him this closely. It made him feel warm, special, and unnerved all at once.
Zexion could see Demyx's focus was wavering, so he answered for him.
"What this means, is that we will have to spend more time with one another." Zexion lifted his hand so his thumb rested lightly across his lips. "In fact, we could start this weekend. Your insecurity is based on the fact that you're uncertain that the benefits outweigh the risks. I know that you're attracted to me, and that you somehow believe that I'm 'nice' and that's a start. But of course, that's only if you want to. It is ultimately your choice. It has to be." He closed his eyes tightly for a moment before opening them again, peering into Demyx's eyes and then continued, "You have no idea how tempting it is to take you up on your offer, to make the choice for you. I want you. I'm not going to prevaricate about that and I thought that I would do anything to have you, but…but I want you to want me, too. To want me as much as I want you. So, the choice is yours, Demyx."
Demyx stared at Zexion. It didn't seem like a choice, but Demyx sensed that it was. Zexion was, underneath the cool and collected exterior, a gentle person. He would never force him into something that he really didn't want. Demyx felt safe at the thought and his body relaxed into the cool stone behind him. What did he really have to lose anyway? Images flashed before his eyes, most of them of his family. Mom, Dad, Larxene? Demyx inwardly shook his head to wave away the unwanted thoughts. He didn't want to think about them, especially when Zexion was standing before him, waiting patiently for an answer. The problem was that he wasn't good at making on-the-spot decisions.
"I can't promise to be any good…at this…but I'll try. I really do like you, Zexion. Everything you said about me was right, and as sad as that is, I don't mind it." Demyx tried to form what he hoped was a reassuring smile. He really did like Zexion, more than liked, he could at least acknowledge that much, or else he wouldn't be agonizing this much, would he? And he hadn't ever felt this way before, or at least never to this extent, and never with a boy. Demyx shook his head. Zexion was right. That shouldn't matter. Why should he squash these feelings? They weren't unnatural.
Zexion hadn't been sure about how Demyx would take his personal analysis and breathed an inner sigh of relief that he hadn't been offended. The cool air really did feel nice on his skin, especially with the flush of heat in his body that seemed to be perpetual in the presence of Demyx.
"I'm glad." Zexion raised his hand to brush along the side of Demyx's face. The feel of his soft, cool cheek against the palm of his hand felt good but he had to pull himself back. He didn't want to scare Demyx the way he had earlier, but how long could he wait?
"So, I'll see you tomorrow, Demyx." I am not a patient person but I am going to try. Hard.
And with that thought, Zexion stepped away from Demyx, taking his hand from beneath Demyx's chin and turned to make his way off the terrace into the corridor.
Demyx's eyes followed Zexion's retreating form until it was gone. He felt like he had missed something important, but what? Demyx shook his head as he stared out at the ever-darkening sky.
I have a lot to think about. Please…please, don't let me screw this up.
Riku lay upon his bed staring blankly up at the small shadowed grooves of the ceiling.
"Damn." He muttered to himself as he silently shook with frustration. The feelings of sensations at his own loss of control were beginning to settle as he absentmindedly thought to himself that things had certainly not gone as planned. A breeze from an open window slowly crept along his skin and somehow the feeling reminded him of how very alone he was. Normally such a feeling would not have fazed him but in the last week he had begun to hate it, to hate the need to have another person beside him. But not just anybody.
Sora. He silently mouthed the word, knowing that to vocalize the name would only cause his failure to become more palpable. Sora had defeated him in every way and now anger, resentment, desire, and even more indefinable feelings tangled together in an unseemly mess that caused his stomach to ache and lines to appear between his brows in a constant scowl.
Sora. He wanted him even now, even after his humiliation, and somehow, what had started as a familiar throbbing in his lower stomach and groin, the recognizable feelings of lust, had turned into a gnawing ache in the pit of his stomach, an unsteady heartbeat in which the organ seemed to constantly jump to his throat at the least provocation, and an uneasiness coupled with the passing thought that these sensations would not go away even if he managed to claim the object of his desire. Riku didn't care to analyze his feelings and had never, in fact, been the type of boy to lie around alone in his room examining the deeper meaning of what lay behind his emotions, but lately such musings were becoming more and more commonplace and such analysis made him feel connected to Sora. Pathetic. The thought whispered in his mind and he couldn't help the inward flinch as the word echoed across his mind.
He wondered to himself how he should now approach the younger boy, having finally realized that Sora was not going to be just another lay, that he was special, no matter how uncomfortable he was with the thought of it. Of course, he should have known that only someone of exceptional quality would be able to evoke such feeling within him and realized the extent to which he had underestimated Sora and his strength of will. His mistakes when it came to the younger boy were multiplying with every day that passed, each one causing him to doubt himself while driving a deeper wedge between himself and Sora. He was through with it. If he was going to win Sora over, he had to stop underestimating him and that meant a change in game-plan.
He would have to befriend Sora, to get close enough to him to be trusted. There has never been a good war or a bad peace he remembered his father had once said to him. He would have to end this war between him and Sora, get beneath his defenses, and then, well, he could be patient enough, and there would be plenty of opportunities.
The weight on his chest began to lift at the new strategy and he smiled into the darkness, turned over on his side, and slowly began to drift off into a dreamless sleep.
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