'Of Booty and Honor'
-Phase One: Audition of Fate-
Chapter Five
By the appearance of Riku having a tall, huddled, shivering lump on his back, it was safe to assume that Squall was scared out of his mind at the moment. Now, before anyone laughs, may we remind you that Squall is used to being bunked with thirty-some-odd, older, friendlier people than Ninjas, and after last encounter he was is pretty much scarred for the rest of his life.
Even though it was dark and the only light the foursome had was the pure, white, not-very-helpful light of the moon, Riku could smell the dark clouds forming overhead. It was going to rain soon, with it already being the middle of December. Hell, did it even rain in Japan?
Another few steps sent the redhead on the opposing side of Riku and his Humpback flying face first into the ground with a low, irritated grunt. After all, that was the fourth time he's tripped on something since they had left the train quite a few hours ago.
"WHERE THE FUCK ARE WE EVE-" The obscene redhead began, before Rude clamped his huge hand around the shorter man's mouth, thus silencing him. Riku sighed, and glared at Reno, "You want us to get discovered!"
"They already know we're here." Rude whispered, releasing Reno onto the ground. "I'm certain that they do, mate. They only haven't pounced because they're creating a slow, painful death for our crossing the border into Furano."
"Ahhh...very good, Rude."
The silver-haired boy stated, adjusting the sleeping brunet on his back, and glancing up at the bald man, "So, before we discover said slow and painful death, shall we carry on?"
Reno scoffed, making both men look at him, "Honestly, Riku, if we keep following the damn tracks, we're bound to miss the town. Train tracks are never sure of themselves, you know that."
"Oh Reno, you too are failing to see the awesomeness of all that is Riku." The nineteen year old stated, adjusting Squall one last time before dragging his tired legs with him as he followed the train tracks.
-AoF-
More hours passed. Riku didn't even remember falling asleep. Squall was huddled next to him, clingingly helplessly like a child to his coat with his brows furrowed together in discomfort. Realizing he was on his stomach, Riku got to his hands and knees and shook his head. Catching the sound of a slow, dull snore, he turned to see Reno sleeping against Rude's back. Hope they didn't freak out when one of them realized their butts were probably touching.
Riku groaned at the aches in his body, and realized the sun had barely even begun to rise. What time was it? Five something?
He rose to his feet and staggered a bit, and upon catching his balance, he looked around the seemingly endless division of trees around the train tracks, and sighed deeply. Were they even on track anymore?
He crossed his arms, and closed his eyes in thought. Another sigh escaped him as a low, almost silent rustle caught his ears. He turned to the sleeping trio...wait...
"S-Squall?" He called quietly, looking around in the dim light barely covered by the trees. He called again, a little louder, waking the snoring redhead. He stretched out, yawned, and looked up at the nearly frantic Riku, "Hiya, Riku."
"Reno, did Squall get up to go piss or something?"
"I didn't see nothin'. Why? Kid disappear?"
Riku sighed, and took another quick glance around the trees. "Yeah..."
Rude was next to awaken, groaning as he rolled over onto his back, and sighed before getting to his feet and yawning. He glanced from the yawning Reno to Riku as he glanced around the endless sea of trees.
"Hey...where's the kid?"
-AoF-
When Squall was finally able to stir from his slumber, and before closing his eyes, Riku seemed to be jumping around a lot. Still believing he was on the silver-haired boy's back, he gently took a tuff of hair and pulled on it, "Stop jumpin' 'round like a 'tard..."
A surprised gasp sounded from the boy and the next thing either of them knew they were hurtled to the ground with Squall sliding away from the older boy. He groaned as he sat up and rubbed his head, "What the hell was that for?"
He glanced around, noticing the older boy had slid into a bush. He got up sluggishly to aid him in his escape from the sharp branches. By grabbing the older's legs, he noticed how heavy he had gotten, but pushed it aside when he realized Riku was free of the ominous, and seemingly random bush. He looked up to meet the other's eyes, and froze.
"Y-you're not Riku..."
He stared as the taller, seeming older male got to his feet and rubbed the back of his head. He groaned, and glanced around for the smaller boy. Upon spotting him, he sighed, and pulled the mask down to uncover his mouth.
The 17-year-old slightly cringed when the taller came closer. Now that he was wide awake, he noticed the the long sheath on his back and the slick, black clothing.
Ninja.
He yelped slightly when he was picked up by the back of the shirt and brought face to face with the other man. Squall's steel-blue stare met a pure Azure glare, and the younger gulped. His captive began yelling at him in some language that had him baffled and cringing back again.
After a moment, Squall was dropped to the ground with the older make still yelling in a different language.
"Uh-uh..." He began, gulping again when the older turned around again and glared at him. He yelled out one last thing while shaking a finger in Squall's face.
Squall looked from the index finger in his face up to the Azure eyes glaring holes into his skull.
One last gulp and he spoke, "Uh...wh-what?"
The eyes softened, and a hand came around and picked him up again. "You...speak English?"
"Chya. That a bad thing?"
"No...it's just you could've told me sooner. My apologies."
The older male place Squall back on his feet and cleared his throat. "WHAT'S YOUR DEAL? DID YOU HAVE TO PULL MY HAIR YOU WORTHLESS FRICKEN THIEF!"
Squall cringed again.
Oh...THAT'S what he was saying.
After a couple minutes, the taller male sighed, and then groaned. "Really hurt, yanno."
"I'm sorry...Hey wait, I'm not sorry! You're the one who kidnapped me!"
"Well ya didn't have to pull my hair. At least I had orders."
Squall's expression turned puzzling, "Orders? To kidnap me?"
The taller scoffed, stood straight and crossed his arms. "Chya. Got a problem with it? All apart of the plan for your disobedience to our warning. You crossed the border, so we have to kill you.
The brunet boy set his eyes downcast, and wrapped his hand around his shoulders protectively. He was only 17, where was big-bad Riku? He felt himself beginning to cry. He strained to keep the tears back and an unphased look on his face...despite the fact he was reeling back like a child.
The taller looked at Squall for a moment, and then sighed. "I'm...just followin' orders kid, I don't know what else to tell ya..."
Squall looked up into the eyes of the other man. He brought his wrist to his eye to swipe a few stray tears away and sniffled a little.
"What's your name, kid...?" He asked the younger boy, hunching down to get closer.
The brunet sniffled again, and looked up at the older male, "S-Squall..."
The older smiled, and gently removed the rest of the confining mask, releasing brilliant blond, wild spikes into the air.
"Hi Squall. I'm Cloud."
-AoF-
"We have to keep moving, Reno!"
"No! I say we turn back now, gather the rest of the crew and come prepared!" Reno protested the younger boy.
"Tidus will have your head if you do that, you know we can't!" Riku yelled out at the redhead, looking from Reno to Rude for assistance.
Chrome Dome agreed, "We have to keep going, Reno. It isn't much further. Another four hours if we walk, with no detours, and we should be in the city."
Reno sighed raggedly, and stomped his foot, "I'm COLD, I'm TIRED, and WINTER is approaching, if the two of you HAVE NOT NOTICED!"
"Reno," Riku began, catching up to the redhead and grabbing his collar, "Squall is still out here, all by himself, and no matter how much you deny it, you CARE for that goddamned kid! We're GOING to find him!"
Reno looked at the younger boy quizzically, and sighed after a moment. "Alright fine!" He pushed Riku away from him, "For Squall."
The Redhead snuffed, shoved his hands in his coat pockets, hunched over and scowled as they walked along the tracks.
Four hours came and went, with the occasional trips from Reno, sudden stop-and-listens from Rude, and sighs from Riku. Nearly reaching the city, Reno begged to stop for a pee-break. He was granted that the other two waited for him as he did his business in a small clearing and came back feeling relieved. The other two sighed, and the trio continued along the railroad tracks.
A sign appeared around the bend, startling Reno into actually running up to it and hugging the wooden planks. It had scribbles on it, probably in Japanese, and had the name FURANO written on the side.
The three walked around the strange town, and were on the lookout for Squall and any sign of where this treasure could have been. After Riku was able to get a lead from an English speaking villager, the trio set up camp in the nearby hills where they would start looking in the morning.
Riku awoke with a start, and groaned, lifting himself up out of the damp grass. Reno was right; Winter was most definitely coming. He felt the sudden need to go to the bathroom, stood up, and walked around dazedly until he was a good distance away from camp.
After he was done, he redid his pants and sighed. Running a hand through his silvery hair, a low cling caught his attention, and he spun around. After glancing around the darkness for a minute or so, a shiny object on the ground caught his eye. He leaned in closer and analyzed the familiar object drowsily.
"C...compass...?" He asked himself, gently picking it up and examining it. Looked familiar enough to be his compass anyway...
"You aren't very good at keeping a high guard..."
Riku knew that voice.
The blade of a knife again met his throat and was joined by death grips handling his wrists.
"I have a very high guard, Sora, I was just pissing over there."
Sora laughed, clutching both the knife and Riku's wrists tighter, "I'm aware of that. You disobeyed my order, pirate, and now you must be dealt with."
"You wouldn't kill me, Sora."
Riku felt the brunet boy inch closer to his ear, "Not without a name first..."
"And if I tell you such a name, would the revealing of said name lead to the owner of the now-known name be killed?" Riku said, slyly maneuvering one wrist in search of Sora's hand. Upon finding it, he laced his rough, dirty fingers with Sora's clean, soft ones with his own. Sora gently gasped again, dropping the knife and inching back slightly.
Now that he was released, Riku pulled the brunet face to face with him, keeping the lace with his right hand tight. After a quick peck on the lips, he inched toward Sora's ear, "Riku..."
Riku pulled back, and stared into Sora's bright blue eyes. Riku's other hand found Sora's free hand, and laced their finger's together. Sora looked from Riku down to the floor, but locked gazes again when Riku freed his left hand and brought his chin up to look at him again. The older boy gently brought their lips together, beginning chaste and simple, turning hungry and desperate near the end. It was Riku released the brunet boy, who gasped and panted gently, and finally looked up at the silver haired boy, "Why...Why do you do this to me...?"
Riku blinked at the captive in his arms, and smiled, failing to reply and brought their lips together again. Sora gave a mild fight this time, but gave in shortly after, turning into putty in Riku's arms. After a few short moans, the two completely toppled over into the bushes, momentarily breaking the kiss before Riku came back full throttle.
-AoF-
The first thing Riku noticed when he awoke the next day, was how fucking freezing it was. He quickly picked his aching body up from the ground, feeling his heavy coat drop to the ground as he shivered and his teeth chattered. He caught site of Reno and Rude, who looked at the boy quizzically.
"Riku? Why are you naked?"
"Oh, you know, just, uh...Oh, I sleep in the nude. What? You didn't know that?" Riku said, rummaging around the dewy grass and bushes for his clothes. After slipping them on, he stumbled back toward the two and sighed after adjusting his coat.
"What were ya doin' way over there, Riku?" Reno asked, popping a small piece of cooked fish into his mouth and looking up at the boy.
"Uh-er-um...I dunno...Got any extra?"
Rude tossed the boy a luke-warm trout, which Riku nearly missed, and looked at peculiarly. He thanked the bald man, sat next to Reno, and began eating.
-Deadline-
A/N: A bit of Cloud OOCness... that's a big WHOOPSIE right there...oh well. Deal. It gets better. And Cloud's a pedophile...Oh...and Squall's a bit of a wimp, I am aware of that, but it'll fit better in the story if he was a little childish. I like a Childish-Squall type person...He's much cuter. X3 But yeah, so I suppose almost all he characters besides Riku, Rude and Reno are OOC...Cuz well...that's just how I made them.
Wow...I think this chapter ended up a tad longer than usual...yay for me. Now...ONWARD! X3