Authors note:
I'd like to apologize for the long wait between chapters but I've been kept busy by my final year at school and now summer vacation starts and I'm shortly going to settle down in a new city so updates might still be slow. However, the third chapter will mark an end for all of this and you will be expecting an update once per week or two. Lock did not have time to read this over so I apologize if there is too many mistakes.
P.S.
Thank you for the dozens of favorites and alerts! I'm glad the first chapter was very well accepted by all of you.
Sora leaned against the back wall with Kairi at his side. They had arrived a few minutes late and the crowd had already circled the stage, leaving little room for anyone to squeeze in. Sora observed where the mosh pit was going to be held and lazily contemplated rushing into it when it starts. It was one of those heavy metal concerts even though it was just a battle of the bands; all the local bands seemed to have taken a liking to the style. They had caught Wakka for a minute before he said he was going to check up on Tidus before the concert started but he never came out. Tidus was supposed to be on after the band currently playing, their name eluding Sora's mind.
"Hey, Sora." Kairi yelled into his ear. The brunet turned around his head lazily. "Look over there! It's Cloud!" Sora hadn't quite made out the name but his eyes trailed towards where he finger was pointing and noticed the blond boy standing in the midst of the crowd. His head was slightly hunched, as if he was bored or waiting for something to happen.
Cloud had graduated from their school last year along with others they had known. They weren't friends but because of a few younger students, they had managed to merge social circles together. Cloud was the guitarist that had quit from Sleep & Love a few months back. Apparently the blond had become depressed over family matters or something. Sora didn't know the details but it broke up a lot of relationships he had.
"I wonder if he's here to see Tidus." Sora wondered loudly but Kairi turned to him asking what he had said but he just waved his hand and listened to the music. Not that he considered metal a genre in music but a lot of his friends did and he kept his mouth shut most of the time. He liked it well enough to listen but he didn't respect it much.
The music came to a halt and the lights dimmed down, leaving everyone nearly in the dark. The crowds quieted down and voices were inaudible from the ringing in his ears. Sora was still staring at the back of Clouds head when all of a sudden he noticed that everything seemed to have stopped. The voices were gone and he didn't hear or see anyone moving on stage. He turned to Kairi but she was frozen, her hands behind her back pressing against the wall.
"Kairi?" Sora waved his hand in front of her face and poked her but there was no reaction. Suddenly, a perverse thought passed through him but he quickly put it away and marched forward to take a closer look at everyone. Everyone was just as Kairi was, frozen still. He looked around at all the faces around him and realized they were all frozen. Had time stopped? He couldn't make sense of it as he looked at all the faces one by one. That's when he saw it.
A quick shadow zipped through the mass of legs, slipping between and around them. Sora tried following it with his eyes but the lack of lighting made him lose sight of it as quickly as he had caught it. He felt something pass by his leg and looked down to see large yellow eyes staring directly at him. Sora's stomach clenched and his heart began to race, the eyes were simply staring endlessly at him.
"Sora!" A voice flew loudly around him. Guitars blared and drums banged quickly as bodies started hurling themselves at him. Quick movements of feet sent the torso smashing into him and before he knew it, he realized the mosh pit had started and he was caught in the middle.
The brunet pushed himself into the crowd trying to break free but the bodies kept pushing him back as well. He was getting pummeled quicker and quicker until he felt a tight pressure on his arm and he got pulled out of the circle hastily. Sora supported himself by placing his hands on his knees as he looked back from where he came. From here, it didn't seem so bad he thought as he panted. He then turned slowly back to see who had saved him and with a slow gulp of air he faced his savior. Cloud. The blond's eyes stared at Sora, seeming bored and then turned back to watch the concert. Or Tidus more accurately, his eyes were fixed on the boy. Sora yelled a thank you but Cloud didn't turn back or show any sign of acknowledgment, perhaps he hadn't heard him but Sora didn't bother saying it again and walked back to Kairi as a few curious eyes, who had caught the scene, observed him.
"Sora, when did you get over there?" The girl yelled at him. "I thought you didn't like those kinds of things." She was laughing and giggling.
"I'm fine, Cloud saved me!" He replied, ignoring her comments.
"I saw. Pretty cool, no? Didn't expect anyone to save you" She laughed.
"Weren't you going to come?" He yelled, vexed but she didn't have time for a reply as someone had come towards them and spoke up.
"Fuckin' A, man. You got thrashed!" The voice came laughing and slightly out of air. White hair and sea green eyes, there stood Riku. "How did it feel being swallowed? That's how darkness feels like. I'm the one she spoke of. I'm the one, Sora."
"What?" Sora stared at him, his eyes widened and heart starting to race again.
"I asked if you're okay, you seemed like you might of gotten hurt there." The answer came back, not matching his previous words. Sora figured he just imagined it.
"I'm fine, just a bit bruised." Riku laughed at that and started speaking to Kairi, the music blurring their conversation from Sora.
Sora looked back at where Cloud had been but noticed the blond was gone from the concert as he couldn't spot him anywhere and with the boy's height it would be hard not to. He turned back his attention to Kairi and Riku who seemingly had forgotten he was there but he contended to listening to them.
"So then I jumped inside and chased her upstairs until she reached her room and tried to close the door but my hand was already blocking it and she was screaming while all my friends were laughing in back.
"That's crazy, I can't believe you did that." Kairi laughed and looked at Sora to see his reaction and Sora pretended to laugh as well even though he missed the beginning of the story. That's when he realized this; everything had become quiet. The music stopped and the Tidus' band wasn't on stage anymore. Everyone was just muttering to each other.
"Umm..I'll be right back, Kairi." He looked at her and realized she might follow. "I'll just check up with Wakka and be right back. Stay here with... Riku." Sora felt a bit sick when he his name, he couldn't say why but it mattered little and rushed towards the backstage door entrance. Wakka was already by the door talking with Tidus when Sora arrived. They greeted him with a lazy wave of the hand and kept talking as he approached.
"Hey, what's going on guys." Sora asked, wondering if that's what they were whispering about.
"Uhh, the cables and electricity sockets got covered in water and some of the headlights broke. We have no idea how it happened but it was enough to freak out all the band players." Tidus replied, looking directly at Sora. "Nice moshing, by the way." He teased.
"I seen Cloud head towards Leon when he left the building to catch some air. Like weird, ya? Those two haven't spoken in a while in my knowledge." Wakka laughed as Sora pouted and told Tidus to shut up.
"Really? Aerith was speaking to Tifa and I overheard they exchanged a few words online and on the phone a while back." Tidus replied, thinking back on the event.
"Oh, yeah? Hmm, doesn't matter. None of our business." Wakka folded his arms, prefering to stay out of anything involving the fight from a few months ago. "You were getting smashed in there, Sora!" He continued to tease Sora along with Tidus, both boys laughing at the brunet.
"So what now?" Sora asked as he looked behind his shoulder, unable to see kairi or Riku.
"I doubt Leon is coming back and I don't even know what's going to happen with all the equipment broken and wet. I think we should just leave at this point." Tidus sighed, unhappy about his event ruined.
"It's still early, ya? Let's go grab some grub." Wakka said and started marching off, deciding for everyone their course of action.
"Let's go." Tidus followed behind and Sora had no choice but to follow. Kairi was standing by the exit alone, apparently waiting for them and Wakka decided for her to come along with them to eat some food. All party members wondered if Wakka had the car or if they'd have to walk.
Lucky for them, Wakka did have the car, the car being his parents car, and they drove off towards wherever the redhead felt like eating. No one truly cared what they ate, all were quiet except for Wakka who had nothing to think about. Sora was disturbed by his hallucinations, Tidus was thinking of Leon and Cloud, Kairi was certainly thinking of things Riku might of said and Wakka was obviously thinking of the restaurant he was driving them to. Everyone seemed to have had a bad ending tonight and Sora couldn't imagine what would ruin Wakka's night.
They pulled up to the Pear Garden, an Asian diner with European dishes for main courses. Sora never figured out why it was like that but the food was cheap and rather good so he didn't ponder on it long.
As they seated themselves, Wakka and Tidus started speaking, breaking the odd silence and lighting up the mood enough for Kairi to speak up as well.
"Riku said he'd like to come hang out with us tomorrow at my place." Sora's stomach tightened and he felt slightly sick from hearing his name but he didn't let it show. "Would you come? He seems lonely, you know."
What about all his other friends? Sora had felt like bitterly saying those words but he held them in and nodded before opening his menu. Why did he hate Riku, he felt like he despised him for some reason but the boy had never done anything to him except be an annoyance to everyone. The brunet sighed and lazily murmured his order of chicken fries and the rest took turns ordering whatever their hearts contended with.
The path of thorns and the path of burdens. The girls voice repeated her message over and over for Sora as he watched his friends eat. These three here, did he love them? Did he value them individually and was able to love them equally? He thought these were silly questions that mattered little but he had already chosen. He could not understand what both of these paths meant and nor was he able to understand what they meant to him. All he knew was that he didn't want things to change between any of them and he'd support his friends no matter what happens.
"Hey, Kairi." Tidus waved a fry at her. "Where's Selphie? I didn't see her at the concert and she's not here with us." He stuffed the fry in his mouth as Kairi attempted to snatch it away from her face.
"She called as we were driving towards the concert and said she was filling sick. She has a headache and her stomach hurts so she stayed in. She told me to tell you she's sorry missing your first performance." Kairi repeated Selphie's words glumly, obviously missing her friend. Tidus simply nodded and stuffed a few fries in his mouth as he looked out the window, eyes searching for nothing in particular.
"Huh?" Tidus' eyes snapped towards the front as music erupted out of nowhere. He quickly realized it was his cellphone's ringtone and answered. "Hello?"
Everyone's gaze fell on him as he talked into the phone. All of them simply pretended to be passing a glance at him but were all carefully examining him from the corner of their eyes. Tidus answered and simple monotone syllables, his eyes slightly darker.
"Okay, I'll be right over." Tidus stuffed the cellphone back in pocket and threw a ten dollar bill on the table before asking Wakka for a drive. "I need to go to Leon's place. Right now! I'll explain on the way." The redhead didn't ask any questions but threw some change on the table before rushing off after Tidus.
"Okay..." Sora chuckled awkwardly as quiet fell back into the small restaurant and turned to Kairi. "I think we lost our ride back home, Kairi."
"It's fine, I'll just call my mom. It's barely nine thirty." The girl reached into her purse and dialed her mothers number, leaving Sora to stare out the window. The brunet couldn't help but wonder if something had happened between Cloud and Leon. He couldn't think of anything else that would make Tidus be involved in a disaster between anyone from the band. Leon always got quite a bit of respect from the band members as whoever was in it was a good friend to him; even Tidus who has only been there a short while. "Sora, you're gonna drop by tomorrow and hang out with Riku and me?" Kairi asks as she hung up her cellphone.
"Yeah, of course." He felt a cold shiver blow through his mind.
"Great, it'll be fun." She smiled at him before returning to her food.
"Yep." Sora said absent mildly, wondering if he'll have his final test tonight.
An uneventful night had passed Sora thought as he watched himself in the mirror as he put on his red t-shirt with Exon written in black letters on it. He observed himself momentarily before feeling satisfied and exited the room. He had slept until near noon when Kairi called and his mother woke him up to take the call. She had wanted to tell him to meet back at her place around one in the afternoon to hangout with Riku. He wanted to ask her why she was hanging out with him in the first place but he felt it was too rude to ask out of the blue.
His mother had made some bacon for him when he was on the phone and he ate it wearily. Part of him wanted to crawl back into bed but the other half wasn't tired at all. He figured, if anything, it was going to be a lazy day with lots of mumbling and video games. As he crunched down the bacon one by one, the doorbell rang and he looked at the door not really caring who it was.
"Sora, it's one of your little friends. Well, he seems rather tall." His mother was looking out the kitchen window as she was doing some dishes.
Sora jumped off the chair and took two big steps towards the door and opened it without a thought, assuming it was Wakka from his mother's description. He froze a little and then flinched back a step as he realized who was at his door. White hair and sea green eyes were flashing a big smirk at sky blue eyes.
"Hey, Sora." He gave off a small wave before stepping in. "I know I'm a few minutes early and in the wrong house but I thought it'd be good if we met a little before heading to Kairi's." He laughed a little and gave his hellos to Sora's mother.
"Uh...Sure." Sora wasn't quite sure what else to do but let him in even if he walked in himself and decided to be pleasant for now. "You hungry or something?"
"Nah, I'm good. Thanks." He looked at the clock real quick before turning back to Sora. "Show me your room?" He asked, nearly sounding like an order.
"Sure." Sora felt stupid for not finding more words then 'Sure' and 'Uh'. As they turned and walked down a hallway, Sora could feel his eyes fixated upon the back of his head. "Well, this is it." He said as he opened his door.
"Seems a tad empty." He commented as he went and sat on the bed, his hands under him. "No offense." He laughed. "It just seems tidy and uncluttered."
"Thanks, I guess." Sora didn't find it empty. His shelves were stacked and his desk as well. His drawers were nearly bursting from having clothes crammed into them but Riku couldn't tell, he supposed. "So, what are we doing at Kairi's?" The brunet asked, subtly covering his real question.
"I dunno, she seemed like a lot of fun so I wanted to get to know her better." He looked through Sora's CD stack that was on the shelf of his bed. He didn't seem to like any of them as he simply laughed quietly and turned away.
"Yeah, she is a lot of fun. Except when she finds herself buried in sand." He chucked a little and Riku as well, understanding what Sora meant. "Don't like any of my music?"
"Heh, all those bands are boring. My music is better." He laughed, joking about what he said but Sora felt like part of him meant it.
"Well what do you listen to?" Sora asked and the other boy pulled out of his pocket his iPod and handed him a ear piece. Sora took it, wondering what the music was since his music was things you hear wherever you go.
"Fuck!" Sora screamed as the music started blaring into his ears, pulling the earphone out quickly. Even from a arm length he could clearly hear the loud drums and guitars as well as the screaming. He looked at Riku who was laughing loudly, enjoying Sora's reaction.
"That's some of my softer music too." He laughed a little more before smiling and scrolling down his music list.
"That was not music, man." Sora laughed a little too, observing Riku.
"Yeah it is, it's amazing. Look, I'll show you some Nightwish." He grabbed the discarded earphone and handed it to Sora. "Don't worry it's not loud at all. I promise." He gave him a smile and Sora couldn't resist but giving it one more chance.
To his surprise, it really wasn't loud. It wasn't too bad and he rather enjoyed listening to the band. Maybe all metal wasn't so bad. Riku was softly singing the lyrics and Sora found himself listening to him more then the singer.
"Hey, Riku." Sora took out the earphone and placed in on the boys lap. "We gotta get going." Riku looked up thinking he'd find a clock but there was nothing of the sort but Sora was already grabbing his shoes and heading out and Riku had no choice but to follow him.
As they head out the door and started walking towards Kairi's house, Sora noticed he was still thinking about Riku and he wasn't feeling that odd sickness. He kinda liked him already and he wondered what had made him feel bad towards him the first place.
Sora remained quiet for most of the walk, letting Riku tell him stories that had happened to him. He was listening but he wasn't paying much attention. Sora had taken a glance at the boy and realized his hair flew slightly behind him as he walked and thought of what the girl had said. We don't have many chances and sometimes we simply let them slip by. Was Riku a chance for Sora or Kairi? Either way, he didn't like thinking about it. Things were simply the way they were. There was nothing lost or won either way. However, he couldn't help but rethink those words and believing them despite himself.
Kairi's house was only two blocks away and it wasn't long before they reached it. Kairi was looking out the window when they had entered the driveway and were heading towards the front door, the girl quickly walking to open it up for them.
"Hey, Sora. Hey, Riku." She greeted them and let them walk inside, Riku feeling slightly uncomfortable coming inside a new house even though he felt right at home at Sora's house. "Did you guys run into each other on the street?"
"Uh, no. Riku came over to my place first so we could get to know each other a little." Sora said as he walked towards the fridge.
"Yeah, thought it'd be nice to be all on friendly terms before we hung out." He eyed Sora as the boy grabbed meat and bread, making himself a sandwich. "Sora, did I bother you during breakfast?" He asked, remembering the boy had been eating when he came over.
"No, why?" He said as he put a pack of assorted meats in his mouth and grabbed more stuff with his free hands.
"No reason..." Riku sighed and turned to Kairi and gave her a small smile.
"It's alright, he does this every time." She smiled and walked towards the kitchen as well. "Are you still sore from last night?" She asked as she watched him make a sandwich.
"I don't know. I feel fine." He was placing some meat when he felt a large thud in his back and he yelled out a little.
"Guess you still got some bruises." Riku laughed and Kairi joined him as Sora rubbed his back in pain and laughed too with them after a while.
Riku was leaning against the counters, talking softly to Sora as the boy concentrated on making the perfect sandwich. However, when the phone rang, both had forgotten what they were doing and started eavesdropping on Kairi as she answered the phone.
"Hey, Tidus." That was the only thing she said for a while, listening attentivly to what the blond was telling her. Kairi had stopped smiling and seemed concerned about whatever the boy was speaking to her about. "Do you want me to come and pick you up?"
Riku looked at Sora but the boy simply raised his shoulders in ignorance. He himself had become concerned even if he didn't know what was happening.
"Guys, I'm going to pick up Tidus. You want to come along?" She said as she looked around the table for the car keys.
"What's going on?" Sora asked her but she simply replied she'd explain in the car as she went into her room, rummaging for the keys and her cellphone.
Tidus was standing beside Tifa, staring at the large brown house where Leon lived. As Kairi's car pulled up the driveway, Tidus turned his attention towards greeting them and giving an odd look to Riku which was seen by everyone.
"Tidus, what's happening exactly?" Sora asked him as he placed himself beside the blond and watched the window Tifa was eyeing. At the thought of Tifa he had gotten a perverse thought and looked a Riku and noticed the boy was looking at her chest. He didn't know how to react towards that in this situation so he simply set back his gaze towards the window.
"Leon was having a party last night and this is where Wakka dropped me off but apparently, it was Rinoa's idea to have the party in his honor for the first performance since Cloud had left the band. When Leon walked in and realized what was going on, he started yelling and grabbing people and throwing them outside. Everyone started leaving right away except for me, Tifa, Zell, Seifer and Rinoa. He blatantly ignored Rinoa and nearly hit her with some chairs he was throwing around." Tidus pointed towards the left side of the house where a window had been broken from the inside. "After that, Leon started yelling and nearly beating Rinoa. He never did but when we all thought he was about to snap at her Cloud walked in. Leon had let go of her arm and simply stared at Cloud for a while. They stood for a good minute simply staring at each other until Leon walked to his room and barricaded the door. He hasn't said a word since. Cloud is still sleeping on the couch and Rinoa is crying and yelling at Squall since last night. Zell and Seifer left after Cloud had arrived."
A red sports car pulled up the driveway behind Kairi's car and a tall black-haired boy stepped out and walked inside the house, ignoring them. He came out a minute later with a sleeping Cloud in his arms and placed him on a girls lap before driving off. Everyone watched the scene quietly but only Tifa and Tidus knew who they were.
"That was Zack, Clouds friend or something. Seifer keeps saying they're more then friends but no one believes that. The girl was Aerith, Cloud's been dating her for a while, sort of."
"Sort of?" Riku asked, turning back his attention to the house as more yelling erupted from within.
"They both admit they care for each other and that they are romantic at times together but nothing ever happened apparently, they just seem to go on dates at times and even then, they both see different people every now and then." Tidus explained as Tifa had enough of the yelling and walked back inside and was pushing Rinoa outside and threw the car keys at her; yelling at her to shut up.
Rinoa picked up the keys and yelled at Tifa then once again at Cloud, screaming inane things that barely made any logical sense and drove away by passing on the lawn. The trio did nothing except watch all of this unravel before them, not knowing what to do with all of this.
"What put Leon in such a bad mood?" Riku asked again, obviously curious about the string of events.
"Leon's always in a bad mood." Replied Tifa, staring at Rinoa's car fade in the distance. "I hope she hits a pole." No one said anything to that. "Cloud most likely ticked him off after the gig, they were alone for quite a while; it's a surprise they didn't beat each other up."
"Speaking of the gig; what happened to all the equipment?" Riku asked, changing the subject knowing he had asked as far as he could.
"Some of the competitors knew they lost and decided to sabotage the whole thing. At least, that's what everyone believes. We don't got any names or proof but it's all to coincidental to be an accident." She said before adding. "You all better leave, I'm going as soon as I tell Leon everyone left. Thanks for sticking around Tidus, you're really part of the band now." Despite the situation, the compliment was well taken by the blond boy and he simply nodded and started heading for the car.
Kairi had driven back to her house along with Tidus, thinking he needed something to divert his attention. As they entered and all sat down at the table, no one said anything; unsure of what would be appropriate to say now. Sora got the courage and decided the make himself a sandwich and Riku eyed him lazily, his thoughts dissipating at the distraction Sora offered.
"I should call Wakka, guys. He probably heard something from someone and is worried about me." Tidus picked up the cordless phone and walked to the other room to speak with the red haired boy.
"Actually, I gotta call Selphie as she most likely heard things as well. She missed out on a lot, she'll be mad at me." Kairi sighed and went to her room to call on the cellphone.
Riku didn't say anything but simply walked outside to the balcony and watched the air, feeling this little outing was ruined. Wondering if he had somehow intruded upon something only between friends.
Sora was watching the clock turn the seconds as he munched on the sandwich he had dared to make. Slowly losing himself in his thoughts, hypnotized by the seconds hand of the clock but a voice had snapped him out of his trance soon enough.
"Are you a liar, Sora?" He immediately recognized the voice and turned his head towards the left; where the voice came from. There stood a blond girl with deep blue eyes, her facial features greatly similar to those of Kairi.
"I'm not a liar." He stated, masking his shock of having finally seen the girl.
"Then why are you just standing there?" She sighed when Sora looked confused. "You have chosen the path of burdens and the path of thorns. One is to support your friends whenever they need you and sacrifice yourself while the other is to protect yourself and block out emotions. What are you doing right now?"
"I'm eating my sandwich..." He thought it was a smart thing to say but quickly took it back. "Everyone has someone to talk to, it's not easy when people are worried about you and you have to tell them you're fine!" He yelled at her.
"For they walk the path of burdens as well, Sora. They enjoy the reward that comes from such a choice."
"Reward?"
"Whenever you're with friends you love and who you love back, it's a wonderful feeling isn't it? But such a feeling doesn't come from just a simple hello everyday and a small laugh. It comes when you can consider the other as a part of yourself, where you can be yourself and not be afraid of them." The blond took a seat at the table, never breaking her gaze from Sora.
"What about the path of thorns?" Sora asked, finally getting some answers he could understand more or less.
"The path of thorns is one where you let others in as long as they don't hurt you. Once you do, you push them away. It's a very lonely path with few rewards. However, at least you're less likely to ever get hurt or care about it if you do."
"Who walks that path?" He asks, figuring out that Tidus and Kairi are both on that path.
"You do, Sora." She replied. "But as I have said, the road of thorns and burdens are incompatible with each other. It is impossible to do both and be happy with one self. It's a complete contradiction of ones actions. It means you are afraid to get anyone else close to you but cannot let go of the few friends you have."
"That's not true." Retorts Sora but as usual the girl ignores him.
"Riku also walks the path of thorns."
"Riku?" Sora looks back and sees the boys frozen figure staring out in the distance.
"Sora, prove to me you are not a liar and choose your final answer." Sora turned towards her but her image was already gone.
"Choose what?" As he asked, three letters floated before him. All three unopened and sealed with a red heart of wax. Under the hearts were the names of Riku, Tidus and Kairi. "Oh..."He stared at all three, unsure of which to chose.
"Each of these letters has what thoughts are running through the minds of your friends. When you pick one, walk the path of burdens Sora and speak to them. This is your final test."
"Final test...What do you get out of this? What am I supposed to do with all these choices?" He yelled, aggravated he had to chose between Tidus and Kairi. He didn't even consider Riku.
"Don't worry, I'll speak to you again. This is only the introduction to something much greater, Sora. Now choose." The order came heavy and strong. Sora couldn't help but reach out his hand and grab Riku's letter.
"Tidus and Kairi already have someone to talk to but Riku is all alone, isn't he? I'll prove you wrong and walk the path of burdens. I'm not afraid of Riku."
"So much to learn and so little time. You still understand nothing." This time, it was a man's voice. The same voice that had been on his doorstep when he had come home from school. Did the girl and the man know each other? He discarded the question quickly and opened the letter.
Unlike most letters who start from a singular thought and develop through phrases and paragraphs going from left to right; this letter had short sentences written all over in different angles and seemed randomly placed.
Help me; I'm not a bad person; I didn't mean it; Sora's funny; I love that band; I don't you love you, Yuffie; Please don't; Touch me; I didn't mean it; I didn't mean it; I love you; It's cold and dark here; I feel wet; I don't see the point; I want to die; Please don't hurt me; Kill me; I don't want to die; Don't you understand?; Please, Please...; Kairi's nice; Cloud said he wouldn't do it; Love; Hate; No...
The rest of the letter had small pentagrams, unhappy smiley faces and scribbles all over it and odd words kept being scribbled near them. This defiantly was not what Sora had expected to read inside Riku's letter. He wondered if it was all right to have read it; no one should be allowed to have a look inside someones mind.
"This is my chance, isn't it?" Sora put the letter in his back pocket and marched towards the balcony, seeing time has already started moving as strand hairs blew over Riku's head.