Stranger Than Fiction
Chapter Six:
Kairi's Choice
Author's Note:
You're all desperate to find out what happened to Leon, aren't you? Well, tough! Nah, just messin' with you. Thank you for all the lovely reviews, I love you all!
Um, the title is pretty self-explanatory really…
I've just read 'Let Me Love You' by RPGirl. Lemon overload . It's kind of cute though… In fact, it's mucho cute in places, but she has the kitten idea that I used in Heartagram. No fair L .
Thank you for all the reviews, you're all so kind. I hope that by the time you get to the later chapters you'll still be as interested… grumbles something about this fic getting almost more than Heartagram in five chapters
Someone said it's obvious who the texter is, but, to be honest, I don't really think that 'Bob' is anyone. Sure, he was created by one of the characters within this fic, but he's a character, really, on his own…
Disclaimer:
I don't own Kingdom Hearts nor any of the characters.
"Hey Cloud, I have your boyfriend here. You know, he put up quite a good fight, but against eight of us it was rather hard…" Kuja's slimy voice said down the phone. Cloud ran his hands through his hair. He should have insisted on walking back with Leon…
"Cloud honey, I'm home!" His mom and dad walked through the door.
"Leave him alone Kuja!" Cloud growled, knowing his parents were listening. He felt the anger he'd been keeping back begin to break through the floodgates.
"Why? Oh wait, he's coming around…" Kuja laughed. There was the sound of ragged breathing.
"Bastard… You're not… man enough to fight me… without all your cronies," Leon's voice sounded hoarse and weak even to Cloud's ears.
"Maybe not," Kuja replied. Cloud felt the anger burst through.
"Kuja, you better run. I swear, if I get hold of you, I will kill you. Leave Leon alone! He's not my boyfriend, he's just a friend!" He yelled. There was laughter from the phone. That was it. Cloud cancelled the call and threw his phone onto the couch.
"Cloud, now don't do anything stupid…" His mother begged. He pushed passed her, wrenching open the door. If Kuja said one more thing out of line, Cloud would kill him. The anger at the white haired embodiment of evil was growing out of hand.
Cloud heard his parents hurried footfalls behind him, as he ran down the street. He saw them, nine figures stood, well, eight stood, one was bent over clutching their stomach.
"Little Cloud will come to your rescue. What will happen then do you think? Will you sacrifice yourself to stop the sun speck from getting hurt?" Kuja was sneering.
"If that's what it took," Leon's voice answered. Clous heard this and hated Kuja even more. He was willing to hurt someone because they tried to defend Cloud.
They didn't hear Cloud approach until he'd knocked out one of them. A number of kicks, blocks and punches later, and all except Cloud, Leon and Kuja were either running or crawling away from the scene.
Cloud heard his parents begin to walk across the road.
"Not so brave now, eh Kuja?" Cloud asked, his chest heaving from the running and the fighting. Kuja turned and ran. Cloud turned to Leon.
"You okay?" He asked. The brunet stood up and grinned.
"Is it going to be a common occurrence for us to be in fights together?" Leon asked. Cloud chuckled.
"Sorry about Kuja. He's an ass of the worst kind. I'll walk you the rest of the way home," Cloud said. Leon shook his head.
"That wouldn't be for the best. Say, Mrs. Strife, would you give me a lift?" Leon asked. Eva bit her lip.
"I've had too much to drink, so's John. Why don't you sleep around ours for tonight? You can borrow something to sleep in," Eva suggested. Leon nodded, getting his phone out of his pocket and dialling Riku's number.
"Leon? Where are you?" Riku asked sharply. Leon wondered why his brother sounded so anxious.
"At Cloud's house. Why?" He asked. There was silence.
"Oh, it's nothing. I just wanted to know where you are. There's only one reason why you'd phone me instead of the house phone. You're staying there, aren't you?" Riku asked. Leon smiled, loving how his brother guessed those things.
"You guessed it, baby bro. Listen, tell mom I'll be back tomorrow night…" He was about to put the phone down then he remembered.
"Oh and Riku, make sure you're nice to Sora tomorrow, like always," He winked at Cloud, who grinned.
"Of course I will be my usual charming self," Riku replied, then hung up. Leon shrugged and put the phone back in his pocket. Cloud was smiling at him in a way that made him feel strange.
Could it be that… Cloud?
"Well, come on then," Cloud said, as though it were the most natural thing in the world for Leon to be stopping the night in his house.
Feeling slightly apprehensive, considering the way that Cloud made him drop all the masks he'd worked do long to build, Leon followed the Strife family into their house.
Leon woke up and stretched. Then he remembered where he was. He opened his eyes to see a pair of blue ones directly opposite. For a moment both of them seemed shocked, then Leon saw the blush forming on Cloud's cheeks, but the way that he seemed unable to look away.
Leon found that he too, was lost in the blue of Cloud's eyes. It wasn't until the alarm went off that Cloud moved, to turn it off. The moment was lost, but Leon's heart was beating so fast that he was sure that Cloud could hear it.
"Um… You can use the shower first, if you'd like?" Cloud said. Leon sat up, cursing himself in his head.
"Uh, yeah, thanks," He replied. He stood up, walking down the hall into the bathroom. He shut the door and leaned against it. What was he doing? He was falling for Cloud, that's what…
Why? Why the hell now as well?
Cursing, Leon turned on the shower. It had been bad enough last night when Cloud had mumbled something about either sleeping on the couch or the bed. When Leon had said he didn't mind if Cloud slept on the bed as well, seeing as it was a double anyhow, Cloud had blushed.
At the same time, Leon looked on the positive side, there was a chance that Cloud might like him back…
"Um, Leon? I, er, need something from the bathroom. Are you decent?" Cloud called through. Leon gasped and cleared his throat. He guessed the shower glass was steamed up enough…
"Just don't look at the shower," Leon called back. He heard the door open, and a rustling sound, then silence. No door shutting, nothing. What was Cloud doing?
"Er, Cloud?" He asked. There was no response. Leon bit his lip, then rubbed a patch of the fogged up glass. Cloud was staring straight ahead of him, eyes unseeing. Leon frowned, then all that Cloud had said the night before slammed into him.
Jumping out of the shower, Leon grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist. He walked towards Cloud, then suddenly, the blonde's arms and legs went rigid. He fell backwards, into Leon's waiting arms.
For a few seconds, Cloud trembled. Then he went limp. Finally, he opened his eyes, blinking up at Leon's face.
"You okay?" Leon asked. Cloud smiled.
"Yeah, I'm fine… Sorry about that…" He said. There was silence in the room. Leon helped Cloud up and then he adjusted the towel around his waist. It was then that he realised how scared he had been.
It was frightening how Cloud would have just fallen, perhaps banged his head against the sink. He could have seriously hurt himself. How could his parents be so lenient?
"Can I have the shower now?" Cloud asked. He seemed unaffected. Leon blinked at him.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" He asked. The idea of Cloud drowning in the shower fell into his mind. Cloud looked at him, then laughed.
"It's okay Leon, really, I'm fine. You finish getting ready, I'll meet you in the kitchen," Cloud then shooed him out of the room. Leon paced around in the kitchen, five minutes later.
Eva walked in and smiled at him warmly.
"Why are you looking so worried?" She asked. Leon clenched his fists.
"Cloud had a seizure in the bathroom," He said quietly. Eva's eyes changed.
"It's a shame that he has this, but it's something that can't be helped… We can't wrap him in cotton wool, for one thing, he wouldn't stand for it," Eva said gently.
"Damn right I wouldn't," Cloud replied, from the doorway. Leon looked down, guilty at being caught discussing him with his mom. Cloud stepped into the room, opening a cupboard and taking down bottle after bottle of medication.
"Right…" Cloud said, after downing about six tablets. Leon felt the bubbling feelings spread from his stomach. The butterflies turned into sparrows, the sparrows into gulls, and the gulls into albatrosses.
"We-we better get going," Leon stuttered. Cloud shrugged and disappeared from the room. Leon was about to follow him when Eva reached out a hand.
"You can worry all you like about him, but you'll only make him dislike you. Cloud lives for the moment, not worrying about the future because it hasn't happened yet. You should too," With that Eva stood up and left the room to get her care keys.
Leon stared, wondering why such a remarkable family were stuck in a neighbourhood like this…
Kairi smiled as she leaned against her locker. She was going to decide today. She smiled seductively as Riku and Leon walked passed. Riku smiled back, and Leon just ignored her.
She didn't even notice Sora until he was stood beside her. She felt a tug on her elbow.
"What are you doing!" Sora asked. Kairi blinked at him.
"What does it look like?" She replied. Sora rolled his eyes and then his grip on her arm tightened.
"Kairi, if you're picking out your new boyfriend today, don't pick him," Sora pleaded. Kairi turned her eyes to Sora's, burning into them. Sora refused to look away.
"What, pick you instead?" She said finally. Sora's face screwed up into a frown.
"No! For God's sake, Kairi! Why are you such a bi-" Sora stopped when Selphie and Yuffie walked over. Selphie looked miserable, and Yuffie's eyes were strangely dull.
"What's the matter?" Sora asked. Yuffie and Selphie both produced little flower number cards. On them was the number that was supposedly Riku's.
"It's not Riku's number," Yuffie looked close to crying. "It's the Chicago Bull's box office!" She wailed. Kairi smiled, evilly. Sora frowned, and looked at Selphie.
"Same for you too?" He asked. Selphie shook her head.
"Huh? Sorry, what were you saying?" She asked. Sora frowned and then he saw it, on Selphie's upper arm, a yellowing bruise… A hand grip…
"No… He didn't…" Sora said before he could stop himself. He then pulled Selphie into a tight hug, trying to calm his angry thoughts. Selphie, darling Selphie Sunshine… How could that evil bastard?
"Oh hi Riku," Kairi said casually. Sora's eyes snapped open to see Riku's smirking face.
"I wanted to talk to you Kairi. I heard from Selphie that you were close to being ready for another relationship. I had first dibs, remember?" Riku flashed his charming grin. He then noticed Sora, and Selphie. His grin turned malicious.
"The incest continues then? That's illegal you know-" Riku stepped backwards as Sora released his hold on Selphie.
"Nervous Riku?" Sora laughed. Riku blinked at him then clenched his fists.
"Leave him Riku, he has stronger friends," Leon warned. Riku looked up at him.
"What?" He demanded. Leon looked over his shoulder where Cloud was walking down.
"You're kidding? Blondie over there?" Riku snorted. Leon shook his head.
"Riku! You listen to me, you said you hated who you are, now for God's sake, change!" Leon growled, before walking away. Riku watched him for a moment, as though he was an interesting trinket, then turned back to Kairi.
Cloud entered the little group.
"What got Leon pissed?" He asked. Sora shrugged and noted that Cloud looked a little… Bright… It was unusual… Cloud looked happy…
"See you around, Kairi," Riku walked away. Cloud raised his eyebrows, Sora growled low in his throat and Kairi smiled dreamily.
I hate Riku. I hate Riku. I hate Riku. I hate Riku. I hate Riku. I hate Riku. I hate Riku. I hate Riku. I hate Riku. I hate Riku. I hate Riku. I hate Ri
"That's not healthy," Cloud said quietly. Sora glanced up and smiled sheepishly.
"Probably not… I just want to fill up the page with something that might look like work if a teacher looked over," Sora lied. Cloud could tell he was lying. He did that funny thing with his eye…
Glancing at the teacher, Cloud took out his phone, hastily checking his text messages.
"Who could be texting Cloudy then?" Sora teased. Cloud grinned.
"A hot sex god who spent the night at my house last night," Cloud replied. Sora's jaw dropped.
"What!" He asked. Cloud felt a little mean for doing this to Sora, but at the same time, his mischievous side got the better of him. Contrary to popular belief, Cloud did have a mischievous side.
"Leon spent the night round mine," He said, casually as though it happened all the time. Sora mouthed soundlessly.
"What about your parents?" He asked. Cloud knew that he was grinning, he couldn't help it.
"Oh, my mom and dad went out for a while…" The blonde lied. Sora's eyes looked about to pop out of his head.
"No way! You can't be serious!" Sora looked about to choke on air. Cloud licked his lips.
"Uh-huh, hot, violent sex on the kitchen table," Cloud said casually. It didn't help that at that moment, the bell went, and the first person they walked into was Leon.
"You're not screwing Cloud, right?" Sora said immediately. Cloud wanted the ground to swallow him up. Leon blinked at the brunet then looked up at Cloud. He then smirked broadly.
"You have a problem?" Leon asked. Cloud stared, why wasn't Leon disgusted? Why wasn't he denying it? Why did that simple innuendo make Cloud feel so much hope. Pathetic… You're so pathetic…
"No way…" Sora breathed.
"See you later, at my place," Cloud winked. Before he knew it, Leon had blown him a kiss. Sora looked about to pass out.
"My virgin brain…" Sora complained. Cloud chuckled.
"Sora, we're screwing with you. Leon did spend the night round mine, but there was not hot, violent sex on the table," God how I wish there had been… No! Bad Cloud!
"I feel stupid…" Sora mumbled. Leon laughed, and Cloud immediately felt a shiver pass through his body. He wouldn't meet Leon's eyes, he was too scared. What was going on inside his head?
"C'mon, we'll be late for our next lesson," Cloud ushered Sora away. Leon stared after them, smiling and wondering. Wondering if perhaps Cloud felt the same way he did… Shame he was too damn chicken to find out…
Kairi smiled at the one she had chosen. He smiled back and leaned in to kiss her. She gladly allowed him to, noting how gentle he was, noting how he wasn't pressurising, noting how he was just perfect. Before Kairi knew it, she was in love. Perhaps it was the kiss, or the words he mumbled to her after the kiss? Perhaps it was the way he gave jealous looks at those around her, being too shy just to walk over…
She pressed her lips against his once more.
"Kairi, I love you," He whispered. Kairi pulled back.
"We've only been going out for a quarter of an hour," She said, checking her watch. He smiled and pulled her close again.
"I've really liked you ever since I first moved here… For three years I just watched you. I guess I fell in love with you the first time you spoke to me. You were on the cheerleading team, remember?" He asked. She giggled.
How could she forget? The rising star of county blitzball? He'd obliterated the opposing team, with the help of Wakka. There had been such a great party atmosphere.
At the spur of the moment, Kairi had posed for a photo in which both of them stood holding the trophy. Kairi, the leader of the cheerleaders, and Tidus, the star player of the school blitz team.
They'd talked about the game, about music, about everything. He'd even walked her home… Then it had teetered out… There had been no contact again until recently, when they began taking classes again.
It was then that Kairi first began to show interest in him as a boyfriend. The problem was choosing between Riku, him and Sora. Well, he'd asked her out first…
"So, you wanna go out on Saturday?" Tidus asked. Kairi bit her lip.
"I can't. I promised I'd help Yuffie study," She apologised. Tidus didn't seem fazed.
"That's okay… What about tonight? My mom's a great cook and she can whip up something real good for us both. She won't bother us either…" Tidus winked. Kairi chuckled, and nodded.
"Yeah, I'd like that…" A lot…
"You wanna buzz your parents then, to tell them you're coming over?" He asked. Kairi smiled.
"I think I'll go home, get changed and make myself beautiful before I meet your parents," She said. Tidus pulled her towards him once more, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"You're already beautiful, you don't need to try…" He tried to steal another kiss, but Kairi turned her face away last minute. He looked at her, confused and slightly hurt.
"Riku… Um… Hi…" She smiled guiltily. Tidus turned around, the look of confusion still printed on his face.
"I thought you said-" Riku began. Kairi shook her head.
"No, you said that you were going to be my boyfriend. I didn't say anything," She said, coldly. Riku mouthed at her soundlessly, then she saw his eyes flash dangerously.
"What about Sora? You just going to leave him out in the cold too?" He snapped. Kairi folded her arms.
"Why would you care?" She demanded. Riku rolled his eyes.
"Sora actually went out with you? Jesus, he must have been screwed up… Anyhow, just so you know, I'm gay, so I wasn't interested in you in any way except as a way to get at Sora. See you," Riku walked away. GAY?
"What the hell?" Tidus rubbed the back of his neck. Kairi bit her lip.
"Let's keep that little conversation to ourselves, yeah?" Kairi asked. Tidus grinned at her.
"Will do, now, where were we?"
Stupid dumb Kairi, wrecking all my plans…
"Sora! Wait! I need to talk to you!" Riku wondered why the hell he was running to catch up with Sora of all people… It wasn't like it couldn't wait until tomorrow.
"Kairi chose her boyfriend," He said. Sora pouted slightly.
"Not you?" He said. Riku smirked.
"No, Tidus," He replied. Sora looked relieved.
"Bye!" The brunet ran away, up a side street. Riku watched him go, wondering why on earth it felt so funny.
Ending Notes:
Sorry about the shorter chapter. I couldn't really find the inspiration to write anything more for a chapter written on Kairi. I never intended her to be portrayed so evilly…
Buh-bye!