"But you told me Repliku wanted to go out Friday night," Kairi said. "He did," Roxas replied, lying back next to her in the grass. "But his date changed her mind. I think she got a better offer." "Why does Repliku always chase the golden girls?" "Why does Selphie chase Riku?" he countered. Kairi smiled. "Same reason Cupcake chases butterflies, I guess." She watched the heartless's leaping ballet. Cupcake was very much at home in the castle garden. In the mist of snapdragons, lillies, roses and herbs. "Is Saturday night a problem?" Roxas asked. "If you're working, we could make it a late movie." Kairi sat up. Roxas came first with her, always. But with their plans set for Friday night and Sunday too-well, she might as well blurt it out, she thought. "Riku has invited Selphie, Olette and me out with some of his friends that night." Roxas didn't hide his surprise or displeasure.
"Selphie was so eager," Kairi said quickly. "And Olette was really excited, too-she doesn't go out very much." "And you?" Roxas asked, propping himself up on one elbow, twisting a long piece of grass. "I think I should go-for Riku's sake." "You've been doing a lot for Riku's sake in the last few weeks." "Roxas, his father killed himself!" Kairi exploded. "I know that." "I live in the same house with him," she went on. "I share the same kitchen and hallways and family room. I see his moods, his ups and downs. Lots of downs," she added softly, thinking about how some days Riku did nothing but sit and read the newspaper, thumbing through it as if in search of something, but never finding it. "I think he's very angry," she went on. "He tries to hide it, but I think he's furious at his father for killing himself. The other night, one-thirty in the morning, he was out on the tennis court, banging balls against the wall."
That night, Kairi had gone out to talk to him. When she called to him, he turned, and she had seen the depth of his anger and pain. "Belive me, Roxas, I help him when I can, and I'll keep helping him, but if you think I have any special feelings for him, if you think he and I-That's ridiculous! If you think-I can;t believe you'd-" "Whoa, whoa." He wrestled her down into the grass with him. "I'm not worried about anything like that." "Then what's bugging you?" "Two things, I guess," he replied. "One, I think you may be doing a lot out of guilt." "Guilt!" She pushed him back and sat up again. "I think you've picked up your father's attitude, that he and his family are responsible for Terra's unhappiness." "We're not." "I know that. I just want to make sure you do-and that you're not trying to make it up to someone who is milking it for all it's worth."
"You don't know what you're talking about," Kairi said, pulling up tufts of grass. "You really don't know what he's going through. You haven't been around Riku. You-" "I've been around him since the first grade." "People can change from first grade." "I've known Axel for that long, too," Roxas continued. "They've done some pretty wild, even dangerous things together. And that's the other thing that worries me." "But Riku wouldn't try stuff with my friends and me around," Kairi insisted. "He respects me, Roxas. This is just his way of reaching out, after the last three weeks." Roxas didn't look convinced. "Please don't let this come between us," she said. He reached up for her face. "I wouldn't let anything come between us. Not mountains, rivers, other worlds, war, floods-" "Or dire death itself," she said. "So you did read Olette's latest story." "Repliku ate it up." "Repliku? You're kidding!" "He kept the copy you gave me," Roxas said, "but I swore to him that I'd tell you I lost it."
Kairi laughed and lay down close to Roxas, resting her head on his shoulder. "You understand, then, why I said yes to Riku." "No, but it's your choice," he said. "And that's that. So what are you doing next Saturday night?" "What are you doing?" Kairi asked back. "Dining at the Dark Inn." "The inn! Well, we must be earning big bucks giving swimming lessons this summer." "We're earning enough," he said. "You don't happen to know of a beautiful girl who likes to be treated to candlelight and French food, do you?" "Yeah, I do." "Is she free that night?" "Maybe. Does she get an appetizer?" "Three, if she likes." "How about dessert?" "Raspberry souffle. And kisses." "Kisses . . ."
"Well, that was fun," Kairi remarked dryly. "I was bored anyway," Axel said. "I wasn't," Olette told them. She was the last one to leave the party at the campus sorority house that Saturday night. Borrowing paper from one of the sorority sisters, she had interviewed just about everyone there. When the other high-schoolers had been thrown out, she had been invited to stay. Sigma Pi Nu was flattered that she would put them in a story. "Axel, you're going to have to learn to keep your cool," Riku said, clearly irritated. He had been in the corner with some redhead, (which had prompted Selphie to go body to body with a bearded guy) when Axel decided to pick a fight with a giant wearing a varsity fruitball shirt. Not smart. Now Axel stood on the steps of a pillared building, staring up at a statue and cocking his head left to right, as if he were conversing with it.
Selphie lay on her back on a stone bench in the college quad, laughing softly to herself, her bare knees up, her skirt fluttering back provocatively. Riku eyed her. Kairi turned away. She and Zexion were the only ones who hadn't been drinking. Zexion had seemed at home in the campus party scene, but restless. Perhaps the rumors at school were true: he was a smart boy with an inner affliction who had seen it all and nothing much impressed him. Like Kairi, Zexion had been a newcomer in January. He appeared from nothing but darkness, however, and could create illusions like nothing you'd ever seen, which scored big points with the kids at school. Upon arrival, he had been immediately taken up by the fast crowd, but his silent manner kept everyone from getting a real fix on him.
It was easy to imagine a lot of things about Zexion, and most people that Kairi knew imagined he was very cool. "Where'sss your old lady?" Axel suddenly shouted. He was still peering up at the statue on the steps. "Riku, where's your old lady?" "That's my old lady's old man," Riku replied. It was a statue of the great Master Eraqus. Of course, Kairi thought. They were in front of the hall dedicated to him. "Why isssn't your old lady up there?" Riku sat down on a bench across from Selphie. "I guess because she's not dead yet." He took another deep swing from a beer bottle. "Then why isssn't your old man up there? Huh? Why not Terra?" Riku didn't reply. His eyes were dead and a eerie darkness eminated from him. He took another long drink. Axel frowned up at the statue. "I miss him. I misssss old Terra. You know I do." "I know," Riku said quietly, no emotion in his voice.
"Ssso, Let's put him up there." He winked at Riku. Riku didn't say anything, and Kairi went to stand behind him. She rested one hand lightly on Riku's shoulder. "I got Terra right here in my pocket," Axel said. All of them watched as he patted his Organization cloak and his pants. Finally he pulled out a pair of boxers. He held it up to his cheek. "Still warm." Kairi laid her other hand on Riku's shoulder. She could feel the tension rising in him. Axel wrapped the boxers around his arm and struggled to climb up the statue. "You're going to kill yourself," Riku told him, his voice icy. "Like your father," said Axel. Riku made no response except to take another drink, tears in his eyes as he looked down, tossing the empty bottle onto the concrete, watching it shatter. Kairi turned Riku's head away from Axel. Riku let his face rest against her then, and she felt him relax a little. Both Selphie and Zexion watched the two of them, Selphie with flashing eyes.
But Kairi stayed where she was while Axel put the boxers on Master Eraqus's head. Then she confiscated a few unopened beers and walked over to Selphie. "Riku could use some hand-holding," she said to her friend. "Even after you and the redhead." she hissed. Kairi ignored the comment. Selphie had had too much to drink. Axel gave a sudden yelp, and they turned to see him sliding off the statue. He landed in the gravel and rolled up like a snail. Zexion hurried over to him. Riku laughed. "Nothing broken but my brain," Axel muttered as Zexion pulled him back to his feet. "I think we should get back to the gliders," Zexion said coolly. "But the party's just begun," Riku protested, rising to his feet. The alcohol was obviously kicking in. "I haven't felt this good since who knows when. "I know when," said Axel.
"The party will be over soon enough if the campus police catch us," Zexion pointed out. "My mother's the prez," said Riku. "She'll get us off the hook." "Or hang us from a higher one," said Axel. Kairi looked at her watch: 11:45. She wondered where Roxas was and what he was doing. She wondered if he missed her. She could have been sitting next to him at that moment, enjoying the soft June night. "Come on, Olette," she said, sorry she had gotten her friends into this situation. "Selphie," she commanded. "Yes, mother," Selphie replied. Riku laughed, which stung Kairi a little. They're both wasted, she reminded herself. It took a long time for the six of them to find their gliders again, and to help Riku find his. When they did, Zexion held his hand out for Riku's helmet, eyes narrowed. "How about if I drive the glider?" "I can handle it," Riku told him. "Not this time." Zexion's tone was easygoing, but he reached determinedly for the helmet. Riku yanked it away, growling, the same darkness seeping from him. "Nobody drives this glider but me!" His turqouise eyes flashed.
Zexion glanced over at Kairi. "Come on, Riku," she said. "Let me be the D.D." "If someone drives," Zexion pointed out to Riku, "you can drink all you want." "I'll drink all I want and drive all I want!" Riku shouted, seething with the rage and emotional pain that was building up inside him. "And if you don't like it, well you can walk then, Zexion." Kairi thought about walking-to the nearest phone and calling Roxas. She was scared. But she knew Selphie would stay with Riku, and she felt responsible for her safety. Zexion asked Kairi if he could borrow her sweater, then placed it around Riku, who was shaking. Kairi climbed onto her glider, as Zexion helped Riku onto his, climbing on behind him. Selphie and Olette climbed on with Kairi, and Axel jumped on his custom made glider. "Why, Zexion," Riku said, drunkenly snickering as he observed the way he was holding onto his waist so he didn't fall off. "I didn't know you cared."~
Kairi pulled Selphie back as she tried to lunge at Zexion. "Selphie, trade places with Zexion. Let him ride with the girl of his dreams." Riku said, still laughing. Kairi shook her head and sighed. "Anybody likely to throw up, lean to the right of your glider." Kairi made sure Selphie and Olette held tight to her. Riku shrugged, then revved up his glider. He drove fast, too fast. His brakes squealed on turns, he barely stayed on the road. Olette closed her eyes. Selphie and Axel hung their heads to the right of the gliders as they lurched sickeningly from side to side. Kairi stared straight ahead, her muscles contracting each time Riku had to brake or turn his glider, as if she were driving the route for him. Zexion actually did help drive. Kairi realized then why he had placed himself in a dangerous spot behind him.
They were all snaking south on the back roads, and when they finally crossed the river into town, Kairi let out a sigh of relief. But Riku made a sharp turn north again, taking the road that ran along the river and past the train depot, beyond city limits. "Where are we going?" Kairi asked as they followed a narrow road, her crystal heart flashing as she started to get worried. "You'll see." Axel lifted his head off the handles of his glider, smirking. "Chick, chick, chick," he sang. "Who's a chick, chick, chick?" The ridge, looming high and dark on their right, crowded the road closer and closer to the train tracks on the left. Kairi knew they must be getting near to the point where the tracks crossed over the river. "The double bridges," Olette whispered to her, just as they ran out of road. Riku cut his engine and lights. Kairi couldn't see a thing. "Who's a chick chick chick?" Axel said, swinging his head back and forth. Kairi felt ill from the fumes of the gliders and the alcohol. She and Olette climbed off her glider. Selphie sat down on the glider, pouting. Riku opened a Dark Corridor, and pulled out more beer.
"Where did you get all this?" Kairi demanded. Riku grinned and put a heavy arm around her. "Something else for you to thank Aqua for." "Aqua bought it?" she said incredulously. "No, but her credit card did." Then he and Axel each reached for a six pack. Though Kairi understood Riku's need to blow off steam, though she knew how tough it had been for him since his father's death, she had been growing angrier by the minute. Now her anger began to ebb, giving way to a slow tide of fear. The river wasn't far away; she could hear it rushing over the rocks. As her eyes adjusted to the country dark she traced the high wires of the electric train line. She remembered why kids came here: to play chicken on the railroad bridge. Kairi didn't want to follow Riku as he led them single file to the bridges. But she couldn't stay behind, not with Selphie unable to take care of herself. Axel was pushing her from behind singing in a high, weird voice, "Who's a chick, chick, chick?"
Small round stones rolled under their feet. Axel and Selphie kept tripping on the railroad ties. The six of them walked the avenue that sliced sharply through the trees, a path made by the trains rushing between Dark City and towns and other worlds north of it. The avenue opened out and Kairi saw the two bridges side by side, the new one built about seven feet from the old. Two gleaming steel rails penciled the path of the new one. There was no railing or restraining fence. The fretwork beneath it stretched like a dark and sinister web across the river. The older bridge had collapsed in the middle. Each side was like a hand extending from the river banks, fingers of metal and rotting wood reaching toward but unable to grip the others. Far below both bridges, the water rushed and hissed. Axel snickered, prancing ahead of them. "Follow the leader, follow the leader," he said. He stumbled toward the newer bridge. Kairi looped two fingers through the waistband of Selphie's skirt. "Not you."
"Let go of me," Selphie hissed. Selphie tried to follow Axel onto the bridge, but Kairi pulled her back. "Let go!" They struggled for a moment, and Riku laughed at the two of them. Then Selphie slipped out of Kairi's grasp. Desperate, Kairi reached forward and caught Selphie's bare leg, causing her to trip over the rail and tumble down the track's bed of stone into some brush. Selphie tried to pull herself up but couldn't. She sank back, her eyes blazing at Kairi, her hands curled with anger. "Olette, you'd better see if she's all right," Kairi said, and turned her attention back to Axel. He was fifteen feet out now and over the water. His too-thin body skipped and turned along the track like a dancing skeleton. "Chick, chick, chicken," he taunted the others. "Look at all you chick, chick, chickens," Riku leaned against a tree and laughed. Zexion watched, his expression guarded.
Then everyone's head turned as the whistle sounded from across the river. It was the whistle of the late-night train that Kairi had heard so often from their house high on the ridge, a streamer of sound that wrapped around her heart every night as if it wanted to take her with it. "Axel!" she and Zexion shouted at the same time. Olette held Selphie, who was leaning over the bushes and throwing up. "Axel!" Zexion started after him, but Axel took off crazily bobbing over the tracks. Zexion persued. They'll both be killed, thought Kairi. "Zexion come back! Zexion! You can't"! She cried out to him, but he was out of earshot. The train made its swing onto the bridge, its bright eye throwing back the night, burning the two boys into paper-thin silhouettes. Kairi saw Axel tottering on the very edge of the bridge. Water and rocks lay far below him.
He's going to jump to the old bridge, she thought. He'll never make it. Angels, help us! she prayed. Water angel, where are you? Namine? I'm calling you! Axel leaned down, then suddenly dropped over the side. Kairi screamed. She and Olette screamed and screamed. Zexion was running back now, stumbling and running. The train wasn't slowing down. It was huge and dark. It was as large as night itself, bearing down on him behind one bright, blind eye. Twenty feet, fifteen feet-Zexion wasn't going to make it! He looked like a moth being drawn into its light. "Zexion! Zexion!" Kairi shrieked. "Oh, angels-" He leaped. The train rushed by, the ground thundering beneath it, the air burning with metal smells. Kairi took off down the steep hill, crashing through the brush in the direction that Zexion had leaped. "Zexion? Zexion, answer me!" "I'm here, I'm okay." He stood up in front of her.
By the hands of angels, she thought. They held onto each other for a moment. Kairi didn't know if it was he or she who was shaking so violently. "Axel? Did he-" "I don't know," she answered quickly. "Can we get down to the river from here?" "Try the other side." They clawed their way up to the bank together. When they got to the top, they both stopped and stared. Axel was walking toward them along the new bridge, a thick rope and a bungee cord slung casually over his shoulder. It took them a moment to figure out what had occured. Kairi spun around to look at Riku. Had he been in on the trick? He was smiling now. "Excellent," he said to Axel. "Excellent."