Sup everybody! This is Aby, or Abysilityy, coming to you from a new location in the GTA :) Oh my gosh, it's been almost a year since my last update! For real? Wow, that really sucks. SO, so sorry to everybody who expected me to update within a week... I've come to realize that August is the most active month of the year for me when it comes to writing. Weird huh? Not that it's going to become like, the only month when I'll update. That'd be sad. Unfortunately, after this update, I'll be heading down to the Caribbean for a two-week vaca, so no new updates for a bit :( However! While I'm down there, bored out of my skull, I hope to finish up to five new chapters for my Namora stories :) The next update should be for Cold Taste... in September. Damn. Haha, I told you August works better for me. In conclusion, it all pretty much sucks downhill from here :P It really sucks. Haha, but anyhow, again, my apologies for being the slowest writer on the planet xD And I hope you enjoy a finally new chapter to the fanfic:
Silk on Sky: Berry Bliss
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Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts is the property of Square Enix and Tetsuyo Nomura. I do not own the characters …but I do own this story. So there.
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Quick AN: Just as the majority of readers wanted (thanks for the views and reviews!), there is more friendship between our two main characters along the way :) The development of romance... well, we'll just have to wait and see where the berries take them. More comedy on the way too!
Some of this chapter's content was based off previous memories of my own as a kid. Enjoy my budds!
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It doesn't matter how long you've known her, all that matters is that she's had you smiling since day one.
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"God, why? Why?!"
A friend beside me laughed as I slammed my head on the desk multiple times.
"That's what you get for sitting there, dude."
Lifting my head from the wooden surface, I turned to stare at him, showing him the sweat that perspired on my forehead and neck, and the red bump that I felt was beginning to form. I groaned loudly.
"It's so hot!! Ugh, why do we have to get the homeroom without blinds?!"
My friend shrugged and stared amusingly at the bump on my face. I watched as his turquoise irises shined with mischief - wow, did that sound as weird as I thought it did? If I wasn't feeling so fried, I would've told him to quit it.
"You know that teach of ours. He thinks it's good for the brain in the morning or somethin'."
He went to put his arm around my shoulder and shake it in a brotherly action. My head slammed on the desk beneath me again. I sighed, panting heavily.
The sun is really starting to burn against my back... and the white-button shirt and damn tie around my neck is doing nothing whatsoever to help me breathe.
"This sucks. This really..." My friend laughed again.
"Don't worry, budd. In a couple minutes, first period's gonna start and you can have all the time you want to dry off in class."
I looked up at him with a scowl on my face.
"Aw, you know that makes it even worse."
"Why?"
"School hasn't even started yet!"
He laughed for the third time. And even though I smiled sympatheically toward him, I was resisting the urge to get up, push him out of his seat, and take his spot away from the window. Eyeing the mask I was putting on, he grinned sheepishly and got up from his seat.
"Here, take it. I'm gonna see what Gil's up to over there with the girls."
Looking across the room to where his thumb was gesturing, I noticed said boy was lifting a friend of mine over his shoulders trying to put her in a nearby janitor's garbage bin. The whole while she kept yelled him to put her down, slipping in threats whenever she could. I chuckled and looked back to my friend.
"Alright. Thanks man."
"Laters."
With that, I watched him leave to head over across the classroom, his silver, wind-whipped hair trailing behind him. Even though Riku's the definition of smart-ass, he's still my close friend. We don't share any classes together though. He's a year ahead. I jumped into his seat almost immediately.
I sighed as the heat decreased around me and sunlight was no longer blinding me. Wiping my forehead with the back of my hand, I closed my eyes and day-dreamed about different things.
With the weekend over, I was back to inwardly crying about the school hours again. It starts eight in the morning, but first period doesn't start for another half-hour. Nothing actually happens during homeroom; our teacher is a softie and everybody is still pretty much sleeping and bored with the time. I especially hate how our homeroom faces the east side of the island. We feel the heat of the sun directed to us and with a strange teacher like ours, we've got no shutters, blinds, or curtains to stop the intense light that burns through. He says, 'it's good for youth like you to feel energized first thing in the morning.'
Energized? Ha, that's a freaking under-threat.
If I wasn't trying to perfect the illusion of being a model student for my parents, I would've used the extra 30 minutes to sleep in and come before classes started. That's the only feeling I want first thing in the morning.
I chuckled at the thought then smiled.
But then again, Naminé wouldn't let me sleep in. She'd probably find a way to drag me to school, whether or not I was awake, just so I wouldn't damage my attendance record.
Naminé...
The smile I wore instantly fell and I replaced with a pout.
Whoa, that felt weird.
Thinking about her suddenly turned a small knot in my stomach.
Going back to a few days ago, on the Friday when we had tried the cranberries for the first time - let me just throw in, Ew! - I remembered how awkward I had been with her while we ate our ice cream in my bedroom. Everything went back to normal afterwards, but I can't help thinking about that moment. I was feeling so many different things.
They were all strange... some felt wrong, some felt right. But why was she affecting me so much now?
As I pictured her face in my head, the smile I lost was slowly starting to grow again.
I shook my head. Whether or not it all seemed different with her for a moment or two, I knew Naminé was still Naminé. She would always bring out weird emotions in me.
Hey, that's what best friend do, right?
And the fact that she is my best friend doesn't really make it weird. I always analyse her. I think about her all the time. It's hard not to when you've been close with someone for so many years.
The fact that she's a girl... just tit a little more time to figure out.
And dare I say, more fun?
I chuckled again.
"This is all getting too weird."
After I had concluded that, the rest of train of thought of cut short as the familiar bells of the schools chimed off. Everyone in my homeroom got silent. Oh yeah, did I forget to tell that there are about twenty of us plus our teacher in the room? Heh, I don't think it really matters actually. Sorry.
Scurrying to vacant seats, we all sat down until the familiar "Please stand for the school and national anthem," was heard over the PA system.
I grumbled as I stood.
I'm pretty sure Naminé and Kairi were dying to finally sing it.
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xxxOxxx
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"I do not die waiting to sing it!"
"Psh, yeah I bet you do!"
I smirked as Naminé tried to reach over and slap me in the shoulder. I pulled back far enough for her to miss. As she settled back in her seat, I watched her pout slightly as she started playing with her hair over her shoulder.
"So I like it. So what? It's got a catchy tune. Don't you like it sometimes?"
I chuckled as she looked up at me with hopeful eyes. She was so cute trying to get me to agree with her. It's hard not to when she looks like that.
The sudden thought made a heat rise to my cheeks.
"I.. uh..uhm, w-!"
Naminé eyed me curiosly. God, she makes my face red. I prayed that she'd take it as an embarassing confession to her question rather than how uncomfortable she made me under her cute stare.
She giggled and pointed at me.
"Ha! See? I knew you liked it! Oh, we are definitely singing it on the way home today!"
I sighed, relieved she didn't see through me. I put my hands behind my head and leaned back into the chair I was sitting in.
"Uh, yeah. Whatever, Nami." Looking over to her face as I chuckled, I watched as she rolled her eyes.
And that's how third period pretty much goes for me. I'll meet Naminé at either one of our lockers, then we head over together to the west side of building and lounge in the English room with the rest of our friends for a couple minutes before class starts. Talking about anything, laughing about nothing, thinking about food - it's all good. Especially with her here.
As I turned my head to stare at my other friends around the room, Naminé started up another convo.
"Did you hear? We've got a fire drill today."
"We do?"
I turned my head slightly over to the left to see her give me the lifted-eyebrow-smirk look.
Leave it to her to see through my uncanny ability of being able to actually listen to announcements in the morning. She giggled.
"Yup, Deaf-o. They said sometime in the morning before lunch and since lunch is next, I'm guessing it's this period."
I dropped my hands instantly from their place behind my head and fisted them in the air. I closed my eyes as I grinned.
"Yes! Free break!"
Naminé blinked and pointed a finger accusingly at me, narrowing her eyes slightly. Of course she'd try to find the bad points in this.
"Think about how much time that takes out of our class!"
I chuckled.
"Why do we hang out again?"
As I turned to look at her smugly, I expected to see her ready with a retort. But I froze the moment I stared at her. That warm fuzzy feeling was all over me again.
Naminé's glare instantly fell into soft smile and she giggled. I had to quirk an eyebrow.
"What?"
I curiosly watcher her as she rolled her eyes then look to the front of the class.
"Nothing. It's nothing..."
I inwardly cringed to her sudden change in behaviour.
Again with the girl secrets? What's with the female mind?
I about to start a change in conversation when the familiar bell chime went off and the class started. As several students flew in and around the classroom to get to their designated seats, Naminé stood up from the desk where she sat and patted my head. She grinned as she walked across the room to sit in the seat, three desks to left, from where I was sitting. I continued to stare at her as she greeted fellow friends around her and got her things out.
Turning to the front as everyone settled in, I scratched the back of my head.
Would Naminé ever make sense, now that I thought about it?
She was so complex.
Hell, all girls were.
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xxxOxxx
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"So he hasn't put blinds up yet?"
I rolled my eyes with a small smile. Then, looking up quickly to where the teacher was standing and talking, I made sure she wasn't looking in my direction before I brought my head down to scribble a reply to Naminé's message.
''He sucks :( "
We've been doing this for about five minutes now and I'm glad our teacher hasn't spotted us yet. The friends between me and Naminé have been ultra sneaky, passing our notes to each other.
But it kinda surprises me that she hasn't caught anyone yet. There's about five other people passing notes too.
I chuckled but when I realized that might've created suspicion, I bit down on my lip nervously.
Flicking my eyes over to my friend on my left to signal I was ready, then to Naminé on the other end, we all turned to stare at the teacher quickly before it was go-time. When her head was turned to direct the class to a point on the blackboard, I swiftly handed the crumpled paper into my friend's open right hand. She then brought it to her left and continued the cycle with the next friend.
Looking over cautiously when Naminé finally received the note, I smirked as I watched her shoulders shake lightly. It told me she was giggling inside. Turning my head back to the front as she wrote a response, I smiled widely.
I mentally reminded myself to give her a pat on the back for breaking the rules with me once lunch started. I've been so impressed with Naminé's daredevil streak this past week. Ditching school early, growing a bit lazy, passing notes in class. The previous her would've straight scolded and hit me if I'd even suggested it. Now, she'd be openly up for it and laugh with the thrill of consequences. She still tries to tell me it's wrong, but she's never backed down yet. Why she's so persistent to join me, still kind of confuses me.
I smirked. When was this karma going to me like she said it would?
I listened to the teacher's response about late Englishmen analogies on women while I waited for Naminé's mesage to come back. When her eyes flitted over to mine as she spoke, I instantly stiffened up and tried to give her the best look of mild concentration that I had. When you look too focused, they start asking you questions, you know?
I laughed inwardly.
It was really pathetic. I didn't even know what we were supposed to be discussing today. At least I could ask Naminé after class was over. Even when she's passing notes with me, she still manages to pay attention to the lessons.
Heh, Naminé. My little information tablet.
"Psst."
Waiting for the right moment, I inclined my head slightly over to my friend on the left. She had the crumpled ball in her hand. When we were ready, she passed it to me. I nodded with a smile, silently giving her thanks for all the help. My eyes fleeted over to Naminé. She was busy answering a question the teacher had directed to her.
Seeing this brief opportunity, I uncurled the ball gently and read the new line of ink under mine. Namine's staight but curvy writing in blue ink was there.
"Haha! At least you get fresh cookies in the morning :) "
I chuckled softly. Oh yeah, did I forget to mention that my homeroom is right next to the Home Economics department and the teachers give us a treat every morning? Yeah, my homeroom is right next to the Home Economics department and the teachers give us a treat every morning. Heh, well now you know. Naminé's is on the main floor as well, just down the hall and across from the Music room. I've noticed we're never too far apart, even after all this time, and I enjoy it everyday.
"Lol, that's right! Be jealous!"
When I had finished writing I sent it back her way. As I waited, another note was passed to me and I quickly sent it behind me. It was like the note-passers' highway in this room, and the teacher was still oblivious. I kind of have a sinking feel though that she might've secretly known already and was preparing to give us all major assignments when class ended.
Great.
When Naminé's note came back full circle, I read it quickly and replied. Here's how it went for the last remaining minutes before the fire alarm went off:
"You know I am. Haha, are you even paying attention to her??"
"No. Are you?"
"Of course. I'm not like you, ya know."
"Lol, good. You can tell me what she's been talking about these past 40 min."
"You're such a lazy bum :P"
"Love you too, thanks!"
After she had finished replying, I was going to write back if we were still on for the market after school, but I didn't get the chance. Once the alarm went off, we were shepherded into a double line and lead out to the nearest exit. We're lined alphabetically by last-name, so Naminé is ahead at the front of the line. I couldn't reach her. I'd tell her at lunch, class would be over once we returned.
As we walked out the room and down the hall to the main doors, I cringed my ears past every alarm system. They are really annoying. Walking past multiple classes, I noticed another close friend of mine named Tidus was doing the same. We smirked as we walked past one another.
"You on for tomorrow, Sora?" His voice was louder over the ringing. I grinned when he brought up Blitzball.
"You know it!"
The thought of the game was enough to lighten my current mood over the alarms. Once everyonce reached the open gym field, our teacher turned to our class while holding out her clipboard and pen.
"Okay everyone, find your homeroom teachers. Then come back here. Hurry now!"
As she said this, a couple of students from her own homeroom were already coming up to her to get their attendance checked before sccurying back to their previous teachers. Our class began to disperse throughout the large crowd. Knowing I couldn't catch Naminé in a crowd this messed, I raised an eyebrow and turned my head around quickly. I was sure I had seen my HT a couple seconds back, up near the bleachers.
As I made my way across toward them, I dodged multiple people and grinned to friends I saw here and there. I even waved to Kairi as I passed her on the way. Thinking about the whole thing, I scrunched my face.
Maybe this free break I wanted so much would cut into my lunch time if I took too long finding him... No! I could not let that happen. Food is like, the top priority in my life!
Well, there's that and mom.. and dad... and N-!
I shook my head wildly, my hair went everywhere.
Not now. I couldn't think about things like that now. I had a mission to complete.
I was just about to break into a run for the end of the field, when I saw Naminé breeze right past me with a smile on her face. As she crossed my path, I felt her put her hand into mine.
"See you at lunch!"
I smiled warmly back at her. As she turned her head back to see in front of her, I smirked as she ran to the right of the field, probably to where her own homeroom class was.
Was she blushing just then?
I shook my head again and began to make my way yet again to the bleachers. Suddenly, I blinked.
Was I holding something?
I looked down perplexed. I noticed there was a ball of crumpled paper in my left hand. I smiled.
Guess she had something to say to me that she couldn't wait for lunch. I uncrumpled the familiar sheet and skimmed the previous sentences until I reached the bottom.
"Sweet sweet. Tonight?"
We practically read each other's minds.
As I continued over to the bleachers, I crumpled the paper again and put it in my pocket.
I smiled.
Reading each other's minds...
The thought brought back another random memory to me.
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'10, 000 feet! Up the Alps! On Mount Koyari! Let's do the, Alpine dance! Hey! Lalalalalalala ,Lalalalalala, Lalalalalalalala, Lalalalala, Hey!'
Naminé and Kairi laughed as they clapped their hands to the beat of the song. Riku covered his face with a small hand.
'No, not that song!'
After they had finished repeating it, Kairi giggled in a high-pitched squeal and turned her head to stare at him from where he sat on one of the wooden posts that supported the dock.
'Awh, don't be a bad guy, Riku! We used to sing that all the time when we were little!'
'Only 'cause we were brain-dead.'
Sora laughed as Riku chuckled to his own comment.
Tidus jumped in with a light chuckle before he jumped down from his standing position to sit next to Kairi.
'Ooh, ooh! How about this one? This is the song that never ends-!'
Immediately recognizing it, Kairi cheered and Naminé clapped her hands again. Both joined in.
'- and it goes on and on, my friend! Some people started singing it, not knowing what it was. And they'll continue singing it forever just because-!'
Riku groaned out loudly, lifting his head up to the sky.
'Make it end!!'
Sora laughed again at his supposedly 'doomed' behaviour and went back to staring at the three, all the while swinging his feet back and forth over the edge of the wooden surface.
The five, young eight-year-olds were happily (majority anyway, excluding Riku) basking in the sun's rays as they spent their Saturday afternoon at their favourite spot on the marina docks. They always took the one at the very end so as to not cause a loud banter for the other fishermen working, and to stare from the closet point over to the island where they played. They chose to relax at the docks before heading over for the rest of the day.
As Sora looked out to the island, he observed his other friends already over there, running around and yelling to one another. He could make out Selphie's rope twirling, Wakka's blitzball thrown in the air, and others with their possesions running up, down, in and out of different spots he knew well. He couldn't wait to join them.
Turning his head back to the friends currently with him, he couldn't help but grin. Tidus and Kairi had somehow managed to pull Riku between them and they were all trying to sway him back and forth with them to the song. Sora laughed as Naminé clapped jubilantly while Kairi grinned with her eyes closed. Tidus was trying to put his arm around Riku, but failed at all attempts.
It was all getting so weird.
Sora stood up from his sitting position and went to move closer to the four, kneeling beside Naminé as the song was finishing. When it was over, Naminé gave a long, happy sigh before she looked up at him with a big smile on her face.
'You got a song, Sora?'
As he looked down to her, Sora's face went a bit red.
There she went again, being all cutesy and putting him on the spot. His mind jumbled.
'Me? Well... uhh, I...a song? Uhm, hmm. T-!'
Riku laughed. Despite his currently uncomfortable position, he was enjoying the moment with his friends, especially when it came to Sora and his problems.
'Come on, dummy. Pick a song. You don't want to disappoint Nami, do ya?'
Sora blinked twice, feeling his face heat up to two degrees higher.
'O-of course not!'
Looking back down to her, he watched nervously as she eyed him with big, curious eyes. He gulped a little.
She had to quit staring at him like that. His heart was racing.
In the three he had known her, for the first time, she was freaking him out. He didn't believe it to be 'girls-are-icky' fact.
Girls always made him feel so squeamish. They made him feel guilty, even when he didn't do anything wrong. Even Kairi left him feeling like this sometimes.
Thinking she was gonna laugh at him, he was relieved and almost surprised when she gave him a small smile.
She tilted her head to the side.
'Yeah, come on, Sora. You thinkin' of one?'
He smiled sheepishly. Her soft reassurance was suddenly filling him with relief and confidence. When Naminé did that, he felt somewhat more powerful. That's what he liked about her.
Staring into her face now with a small grin, Sora noticed how the wind from the ocean picked up and blew her hair around. He admired the gleam the sunlight reflected off of it.
Suddenly, a song popped into his head.
'Yeah! I've got one!'
He bent his legs to sit on the edge again, this time shoulder to shoulder with Naminé. As they all waited for him, he coughed nervously and began.
'You are my sunshine, my only sunshine - !'
Naminé blinked her eyes rapidly and grinned. She read his mind.
'Aw, I remember that one!' She joined him, nudging his shoulder in reassurance again to make him sing louder.
'You make me happy when skies are grey!'
Kairi and Riku grinned happily. They chose to listen in silence.
'You'll never know dear, how much I love you!.... Please don't take my sunshine away!'
Naminé cheered and Kairi clapped. Riku though smiling, he secretly lifted an eyebrow in Sora's direction.
'Nice one, Sora.'
Sora scratched his cheek, nervously grinning.
'Ta-da?'
Everyone laughed. Tidus was the only one left to give feedback.
'Awh, why'd you pick that song? That song's for sissys!'
Kairi elbowed him in the gut that he painfully wimpered to.
'Well, I thought it was very sweet.' Naminé nodded in agreement.
'Me too! I liked it, Sora.'
He laughed while shaking a little.
'Heh, thanks.'
Riku chose to jump into the conversation - a thought had just occured to him.
'I know why he picked that song. 'Cause it was all about Naminé!'
Kairi widened her eyes and looked over to Sora with her mouth opened, outwardly excited. She, like their other girl friend Selphie, was a hopeless romantic.
'Aww, really?? Is that true, Sora?!!'
Sora blinked multiple times then widened his ocean, blue eyes. His face quickly flushed red again.
'Huh?! W-Uhm, Riku! T-! W-what are you - !'
Naminé looked up at his face, innocently curious. She was only eight, and not into love like Kairi was. She didn't get it as fast.
'Sora...?'
Tidus, suddenly realizing Riku's trick, smiled slyly and leaned out more from his spot beside Riku to stare at Sora's face. He exaggerated his words as he spoke.
'Of cooourse it was, Kairi! All that sunshine talk? He's talkin' about her hair! Sora looooves Nami!'
Kairi, who had been staring at Tidus while he was making his comment, quickly whipped her head to Sora's face again too, her two red pigtails swinging around her face. Her blue eyes were shining brightly.
'Awwhh! That's so sweet! Tell him, Nami!'
Naminé looked from Kairi's face to Sora's. She smiled sympathetically as she watched his whole body shake and his face grow flustered. She knew how bad he hated being pressured into things he didn't like. Hey, she was his best friend. She knew alot of things about him - as she thought about his distress, she decided there was another thing in particular she liked about him alot.
Leaning up, he pecked him on the cheek for the very first time.
Tidus gasped. Kairi squealed. Riku just smirked. Sora, was petrified. He froze there as his mind went blank and his heart went racing. But as he wrapped his mind around what just happened, the suffocating feeling in his chest quickly burned it out.
Naminé was special to him. No amount of nervousness, fear, or shock he attained from or about her would make him forget that. As he thought this, she settled back into sitting position and averted her blue gaze to the water below her.
'I'm...uh.. glad that I'm you're sunshine, Sora... Thank you.'
Sora wasn't sure what to reply with at the moment. Normally, if they had fuzzy moments like this, he could find the right words to say back. But with the other three here, he felt terribly put on the spot and was lost for words.
Thinking Sora had enough, Riku coughed lightly to break the tension and stood up. Stepping back from the others to wipe the dirt off his boy shorts, he smiled.
'Alright, let's head over there now!'
Tidus, already bored with the scenario, jumped up and stretched.
'Yeah, come on guys!' He and Riku made their way over to where their boats were tied.
Kairi sat a little longer, staring at the two. She hoped for something more to happen but when it didn't seem to come, she sighed dramatically and got up. She tugged Naminé's arm on the way.
'Yeah, you two. Let's gooo!'
The quicker they got over to the island, the quicker she could rally together all the girls and have a super secret meeting about Naminé's kiss with Sora. It made her all jittery with excitement.
Naminé hadn't moved still from where she sat. Looking back up, she eyed Sora curiously, the little blush was still on her face.
'Uh... you okay?'
As much as she had enjoyed giving him the quick peck, Naminé wondered if the move was a little too fast for her little best friend. She knew he was a boy and all, and that they hated mushy things. The thought made her eyebrows furrow together.
She was concerned in hoping that it didn't affect their friendship. He still hadn't responded to her yet. Even now as he continued to stare at her face, then the floor for several moments, she wondered if she had wrecked it.
Feeling glum, her face went crestfallen and her heart began to beat wildly. What would it be like now with him?
Not wanting to find out this very day, Naminé quickly rose to her feet and headed to the boat where Kairi was already anxiously waiting in.
'Y-yeah....'
The minute they reached the island, she decided she'd find a place to hide for the rest of the time there. Not confronting Sora, not anybody. She didn't want them to see her cry when it happened.
With Naminé's movement, Sora finally found the mind he had lost in the haze of the moment. He wasn't exactly sure what to make of it still but it concluded to him that... it wasn't bad.
Not bad at all, actually.
All these years of thinking what a kiss was like from someone other than your mom, talking with Riku about who'd they considered kissing when they got older, wondering what it felt like... And then it finally happened. As excited as he was (as any boy would be), he was also a bit relieved. Relieved that it was Naminé.
He'd done some serious thinking about girls over the past couple years and from once being faithful to the belief that all girls had cooties before age four, he grew to decide that some of them were okay. After having someone like Naminé for a friend, the fictional disease wasn't a part of the picture anymore. He even wondered down the road what the rest of his life would be like with her around all the time...
His conclusion - it'd be great. Fantastic even. Heck, even girls like Kairi and Selphie would make life fun.
And kissing? Well, what Naminé had done just then didn't leaving him scowling. A kiss was okay. And he was happy a friend, his best friend, had given him his first. Finally coming to his senses, he wanted to thank Naminé right then, or at least give her a smile to let her know he wasn't mad or disgusted with her.
He blinked. But as he watched her get up, about to say something to her, he stopped. He saw her face.
She didn't say a word. She hadn't even looked at him.
She was sad.
He had disappointed her.
Sora frowned. Did he really take that long to respond? Looking up at her from his spot, he watched as made her way to the tied-up boats and spoke softly to the others.
The tone of her voice... her head cast down... it made him feel like a loser.
Naminé continued to walk over the Kairi's boat. She never felt this embarassed. She was sure they were all staring at her and what was even more terrifying was thinking of when they'd spread this around to the other kids on the island. She could already hear it.
'Did you hear? Naminé kissed Sora!' 'Yeah, and he didn't do anything!' 'I think he's embarassed.' 'He probably doesn't like her that way!' 'Awh, that's so sad.'
Letting a soft sigh escape her lips, she felt the back of her throat shudder. He couldn't have at least tried to smile, to give back the reassurance she always gave him? Blinking rapidly, she knew a cry was coming soon.
What hurt more, was that Sora was her best friend. It should have meant more to him, the way it did to her.
She scurried over faster to Kairi's boat. The quicker, the better.
'Naminé, wait!'
Sora watched as she stopped and turned to stare at him slowly. Her eyes held nothing back to show the hurt that swam within. Gulping, he boldly stood up and faced her direction. Kairi, Tidus, and Riku watched curiously. Sora huffed softly, determination burning in his eyes.
It didn't matter that they were all staring. All that mattered was hoping he could fix the little scratch he made in his friendship with Naminé. He didn't want another episode of her tears again. Especially, when it was him who caused them. She watched as he made his way over to her. When he got there, he stopped in front of her, fisting his left hand softly. They stood facing each other at the same height.
Naminé blinked, waiting patiently as he scratched the back of his small head while looking down.
What was he thinking? What was he going to do?
Sora tried to think of something to say but when nothing special came, he threw all caution to the wind and decided this was the only better way.
Hurriedly, he planted a light kiss to her lips, then pulled away in a flash.
It was his second, and her first.
He turned his head to the sky and clutched his right arm with his left hand. He could already hear Kairi sqeualing in the background and a shocking 'I told ya, Riku!' from Tidus. He was desperately trying to fight the blush that was growing. He hadn't meant to kiss her there, but in his panic, he wasn't really paying attention to his aim.
As Naminé brought up a small hand to touch her lips, she watched as he looked around nervously.
It was all too fast to make sense, feeling, or emotion of.
Quickly, Sora ran to jump into in his own boat, his head bent down to face the water. When he turned his head back around to face everyone, he was grinning widely and waving his arms up and down.
'Yeah, come guys! Let's go!!'
The intense atmospehere was dissapated instantly. Riku and Tidus cheered in agreement - even though they exchanged sly looks to each other. They were totally gonna corner Sora later.
As everyone began heading off to the island, Naminé turned over to stare Sora. When he caught her gaze, he grinned shyly.
'Y-you pick a song next, Nami!'
She smiled warmly, half-lidding her eyes.
'Okay.'
How was she going to explain this one to daddy?
She decided it was better not to.
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xxxOxxx
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"Raspberry tart, raspberry gelatin, raspberry smoothie, raspberry jam... uhm, what else is there?"
I smiled as I lifted my head up to the sky.
Was there even more? I guessed, just to make her happy, by putting things together.
"Uhh.... raspberry pie?"
She made an 'Mm' sound, satisfied with my answer. Awesome.
"Oh! And, there's raspberry-leaf tea."
I looked over to her curiously with my head tilted to the side.
"You can make tea like that?"
I watched her nod her head and turn to look at me with a smile, her golden hair whipped around her face.
It made me smile more.
"You can make tea with any type of leaves... making it taste good? Well, that's different."
I groaned and slumped my shoulders.
"I don't think I can trust berry jucie, berry tea, or whatever... after what happened before."
She must have understood where I was going, because she laughed and put her arm around me.
"Oh Sora..."
As I felt the warmth of her body, it made me fuzzy inside again.
After ditching gym like we always did, we berry-skipped down to the market and purchased a basket of ripe raspberries. I still speculate on how they always manage to get all types of ripe fruits... I don't think it's even the right season for raspberries.
But hey, if it puts a smile on Naminé's face, I'll believe anything.
The thought made a sudden rise to my neck and face. I was lucky Naminé had her head turned to the place before us, so she didn't see. I felt warmly uneasy... It was beginning to turn me into sounding like a lovesick fool.
I coughed up the raspberry I was swallowing. I'm starting to do that a lot nowdays.
Lovesick? What was that supposed to mean? I wasn't - I didn't - I couldn't-!
"You okay?"
Naminé's voice brought me back and though it helped to pull me from my disgruntled thoughts, it didn't help the growing fuzzy feeling I was beginning to develop again. My face flushed.
"Your face is flushing. You're not choking again, are you?"
Hitting my chest softly, I swallowed the remaining bit of raspberry in my throat and looked at her.
"W-why'd you say it like that?" I laughed when I was able to breathe normally again. I rolled my eyes.
"Thanks for the concern."
She rolled her eyes back at me.
"Sorry, it's just you're so clumsy. Especially when you eat.." I heard her giggle.
I smiled inwardly. Like bells again.
"Haha."
Not even expecting it like I normally can, Naminé went to punch me lightly in the shoulder.
"Hey!"
She laughed and threw her back onto the floorboard to stare up at the sky. I looked down at her smiling then followed her gaze to the seagulls flying overhead. I hoped they wouldn't get too close... you know what they do when they fly.
I was about to voice the same thought to my best friend when I heard her sigh. I blinked and quickly looked back down to her. Her face was all scrunched up in the same cute way.
"What is it?"
"Nothing just... I wish I could sleep here, that's all."
I chuckled and copied her position, feeling what kind of relaxation she was getting at. We were sitting at another of our favourite places - the marina docks. Before us was the afternoon sun on our faces and the smell of saltwater drifting threw our noses. The wood was sturdy beneath us and ocean was sparkling in front. As the sky was blue-orange above us, we swang our barefeet back and forth over the edge, and our shoes were placed to the side. It was all really pretty.
I sighed too. It felt too good to be real.
"Yeah, I get what you mean."
She quickly changed the topic.
"So you're not gonna get locked out of your house again today right?"
I chuckled and nudged her lightly.
"Nah, not today... Why? Your dad misses me?"
She chuckled too. I knew she was rolling her eyes.
Whenever I forget my keys in my house, and I lock before realizing, I get to kick it at Naminé's until my mom comes home from work. I usually get a slap to my arm and a lecture about being an idiot, but it always ends with a 'So what d'you want tonight? Ice cream or brownies?'
I laugh at the memory.
"What's so funny?"
I hear the smile in her voice. Since I haven't said anything for a while, she probably thinks I'm going insane.
With her though, I always tend to. I grin with my eyes closed.
Not bothering to answer her question, I pull myself up to sit again, and I reach for a couple of raspberries in the basket sitting on top her stomach. I munch on a few before I start another convo.
"Hm, they're not as great as strawberries. But a heck of a lot better than cranberries."
Naminé sat up again, eating a few too. When I heard her finish a swallow, she giggled.
"Mmhm, you're right."
I chuckle with her.
"But, it's still fun to do this, right?"
Hearing the hopeful tone in her voice caused me to look at her.
As she looked up at me with shining crytsal sapphires, I felt entranced. I gazed long and grinned softly down to her.
"Yeah, it is..."
Should I really open my mouth and continue what I want to say? Do I even what I want to say?
She made everything so hard and yet, so easy at the same time. I don't think she knows yet how much of an effect she has on me.
Well, at least not the way a best friend should... it's something so much...
I almost leaned in to her face before I knew what was happening. And when I finally did, I pulled back quickly - not in an alarming way but quick enough for her not too notice. Her eyes suddenly widened.
Oh no, did she - what did I? - !
"Wow, you're fast, Sora! And so lucky too! That seagull almost hit you!"
Then I realized that she had backed away too. I quirked a brow and wondered why. Then I remembered what she said.
Looking down, my eyebrows furrowed together. That was disgusting.
I moved to sit on the opposite side of the dock's edge. Naminé laughed and followed in suit. As she settled down, she started to scoot closer to me. She giggled with a hand over her mouth.
"You gonna be okay? You looked pretty shocked."
I watched as she eyed my face again for the... well, I wasn't sure how many times she had looked me in the face that day. She also went to looked at my shorts and shirt, hoping I didn't get any crap on myself.
Both thoughts made blood rush to my cheeks. Man, why was I feeling so embarassed around her today?
"Uh, y-yeah. Just a little shocked, b-but I'll be okay."
I gave her my shyest grin as I scratched my left cheek with a finger. She gave a quick 'you-should-know-me-by-now' look but then replaced it with a warm smile. Her eyes were closed in amusement.
I'm not convinced she bought that lame attempt to lie. She chuckled lightly to prove my hypothesis.
"Heh, alright... Oh and Sora?"
I lifted an eyebrow slightly, I waited patiently while turning to face her. The sunlight behind her left delicate shadows over her features. As much I hate the heat of the sun beating down on in the mornings, I've grown to appreciate its warmth in this time. The coolness of the ocean makes it bearable.
"Hm?"
"...Thanks again."
I smiled and put an arm around her. I didn't have to speak to express my gesture.
Even though Naminé had finished inspecting me, we continued to sit close, hip-to-hip. The raspberry basket was still in her lap. As we turned our attention back to the ocean, the breeze picked up. We both went back to admiring the scene before us. I put an arm around her shoulders in a leisurely way.
...Today felt just like that day seven years ago - happy songs and laughter floated through my ears.
I was imagining the day all over again.
"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine... you make me happy when skies are grey..."
I joined in, singing softly.
"You'll never know dear, how much I love you..."
"You'll never know dear, how much I love you..."
Suddenly I realized I had been singing out loud. I blushed feeling embarassed.
I would've stopped...
But Naminé put her head on my shoulder. When I looked down, I saw she had her eyes closed, smiling softly.
And as she sang the last verse quietly, I listened with my heart beating steadily faster.
I hadn't even realized that I'd subconciously pulled her closer.
"...please don't take my sunshine away."
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I'm a moth. She's my light.
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Hooray! Another chapter ish done. Haha, I really enjoyed making this one considering how many hours it took, how many spell checks I made, and how many times my mom kept trying to peek at what I was typing. Moms, huh? Lol, well I hope you liked it. And yup you got two new characters, Riku and Tidus. They're brief, but every other character is because this is a Sora/Naminé-centric story. Now with a break, I'll take any type of feedback. Who would you like to see come out as a new character? Who do you want to come back? What other berries have you got? You want drama or sweetness the whole way through? Touch-ups, suggestions, you name it. But flames I will just hoze down. I don't go around reading to trash a pairing and I absolutely love and support this one, so keep negative comments about Namora to yourselves kids.
To anyone who cares, the first rhyme that they sang as kids is an actual Japanese children's rhyme called 'Thousand Feet Up the Alps.' I've heard it in real life, and it's pretty cute :) The others? Well, a lot of people already know those. Oh, and sorry about any major spelling mistakes I miss. I wasn't using Word when I wrote this and Wordpad has no spell check system whatsoever so I tried hard reading it three times over. So, I hope you enjoyed it! Thanks so much and don't forget to drop a review!
