If it Never Happened: A slice of life take on what the Kingdom Hearts characters from the FemSora universe would be going through if the events in the game never existed.
Author's note: Just a reminder to readers, I want you guys to know I take opinions into affect. I like hearing suggestions and opinions on fics and if you guys have any requests or things you want improved don't hesitate to bring them up with me. Not just with this fic but with all my stories. I live to serve!
Chapter 2: Deal with the Devil
Axel grinned at Sora, giving her a two finger salute in greeting when she sat upright. He'd spotted her from the beach as he'd rounded from the back where he'd been lost in his own thought. When she laid down he got a perfect view under her skirt.. the girl never did have a good sense of modesty. "Yo, Sora!"
"What are you doing here?" Sora straddled the tree as he leapt up to join her. The guy was as tall as Riku, but stood out more for his flare and personality. He had bright red hair that was often a spiky mess but lately he'd become accustomed to tucking it into a tail that left the top smooth and the bottom a ball of spikes.
"Well I could ask you the same thing. This place hasn't seen people for months. Though I have a feeling I know why. I heard you screaming from the other side of the island."
"Huh?" Sora raised a brow.
"STUPID RIKU!" Axel mimicked and gave a laugh when she blushed. "See? I get the feeling that Mr. Class President pissed you off some huh?"
She pouted and leaned back some sighing heavily. "I wouldn't say pissed off… more like upset me some. Lately things have been so different between my friends and I… I just don't know what to do anymore. I feel like I'm in some sort bubble, I'm kinda there but there's this invisible wall separating us. While everyone else grows up and finds new things Im still trapped holding onto what's precious to me."
"I hear yah… Before you had your accident everyone loved coming here, it was the hot spot for a lot of kids our age. Now that we're older, people stop coming and finding new things to take interest in. It's kinda sad."
"You still like it here, right Axel? That's why you're here?"
"Sure." Axel grinned in her direction. "Nothing beats the view from the beach… all that sea… the sun setting on the ocean, the smell of the breeze." He watched Sora's eyes melt into the view as he spoke.
"Yeah… it sure is something."
Axel jumped off the trunk and leaned back instead. Sora sat up rounding her legs, and when Axel held out his hand she took it and let him help her down. "It's getting late, we should both head back to the mainland."
"Yeah I know…" Sora pouted and pulled her hand from his to stick both behind her head in her trademark pose. "Hey Axel… will you come back here with me tomorrow?"
"Sure… we can come back right after school… That is unless you have some studying you need to take care of." He watched her face go blue and he laughed. "Right on target!"
"Why does everyone have to keep rubbing that fact in? My grades aren't THAT terrible."
"No, but your are a space case. Everyone knows this." Axel rubs her head and wraps an arm around her shoulders leading her down the path. "You also get distracted way too easily."
"You seem to know an awful lot about me despite the fact this is the first time we've really hung around each other."
"Well I did date your sister, yah know." He chuckled.
"Oh yeah… speaking of which I'm sorry things went bad for you." Immediately sympathetic she looked up at Axel with a slight frown.
"Riiight." Axel suddenly stopped and lifted his free hand to scratch his cheek."Well it is what it is."
"Do you wanna talk about it?" Sora offered stopping halfway to the boats.
"Not really, no." He stuffed his hands in his pockets.
"Are you sure?" She turned towards him folding her arms behind her head again. "I'm a good listener."
"Look I don't wanna talk about it… got it memorized?" He pointed a finger at his head huffing a bit before stuffing his hands back into the pockets. "It's been a week, I'm over it. It is what it is…"
It didn't sound like he was over it at all to Sora. She didn't know much about boys and love and adult relationships but she knew when two people really cared about each other… or at least she thought she did. It had seemed like Axel and Roxas were a match made in heaven, so affectionate and happy.
"Well I don't think I would be.. even after a week." She watched his back tense up in his hunched position. "When you care about someone like that for as long as you were together… and suddenly they just decide-" She lifted a hand putting it on his tense back and rubbing it. "Sorry I won't say anymore. I just want to tell you I"m sorry things turned out this way, and if there's anything I can do to make you feel better. I'm here."
"You really mean that?" Axel looked over his shoulder at her.
"Yeah, you and I have a bond now… we're friends and I'm always there for my friends! So you can count on me Axel."
"Alright." He turns around facing her with a smile. "Then make me a promise." He holds up a pinky finger. "Promise me that no matter how busy you are, and no matter what you're doing if I need you you'll spend time with me. Agreed?"
Sora looked at his pinky and then smiled and held up hers grabbing his with it. "Alright it's a promise, Axel. I'll be there for you whenever you need me."
He squeezed her pinky a little and tugged her in giving a little kiss on the cheek. "You're a sweet kid, Sora. Come on, I'll walk you home."
Sora touched her cheek giggling a little thinking he was just being friendly. "Okay."
~The Next Morning~
Sora was up early which was a surprise to everyone including her own mother. She ate breakfast and jumped out the door before Roxas could even make it down the stairs. "I'm heading out early and walking. Tell Roxas I'll see her at school!" She jogged out the door. She found she preferred walking to taking he bus. There was just something comforting about it. She jumped on the brick wall that led to the main street and strolled across it humming.
"Maybe I should go have lunch with Axel. I wonder if he'd like that… She jumped off the wall and made a squeak when two arms came around her. "GEH! Wha? Riku?"
"There you are! I tried finding you at your house but your mom said you'd already left!"
"How did you get ahead of me?" She glanced over and spotted the bike. "Oh… well then you found me. What do you need Riku?"
"What do you mean what do I need? You took off so suddenly yesterday I never got a chance to apologize." He let go of her and grabbed his bike motioning for the two of them to walk together.
"Well can you blame me?" Sora pouted holding her back in front of her occasionally kicking it up with her knees. "You were kind of a jerk."
"I was just trying to have your best interests at heart Sora. I don't think you understand just how much of a hole you're in. If you don't maintain at least a C average on all your tests they're gonna fail you again. You need to do well and you can't afford distractions." Riku said keeping his voice calm and pleasant.
Sora gave a heavy sigh. "I know you're right, but still you gotta understand something Riku. That Island is important to me, and everyone but Axel is just letting it fall apart."
"Axel?" Riku stopped and stared at her. "What do you mean everyone but Axel?"
"Oh, he was at the Island when I went over there yesterday. He sat next to me, cheered me up, and we've become friends now." She smiled. "I was gonna ask him to have lunch with me today."
"Cancelled." Riku said his face blank. "You're having lunch with me and Kairi."
"Huh?" Sora's eyes widened. "Really? Don't you-"
"It's settled, I'll see you at lunch." Riku put his bike away and locked it up.
"Wait, huh… Riku!" She held out her hand when he rushed ahead into the building. "What was that all of a sudden?"
~In Class~
"Riku wants to you to have lunch with him and Kairi?" Donald sat sideways in his seat looking back at his friend.
"Yeah, out of the blue!"
"That's a good thing though isn't it?" Goofy acknowledged. "It means he's also wanting things between the three of you to get back to normal. He wants to spend more time with you."
"I guess so, but it just seems strange that one minute he was lecturing me about not getting distracted and then the next he tells me I'm to have lunch with him and Kairi." She frowned and looked down at her notebook tapping her pencil on it. "I just don't understand how his brain functions."
"Was there anything else you said to him before he told you to have lunch?"
"Not really… I only told him I was thinking about having lunch with Axel since we bonded yesterday at the island."
"With Axel huh?" DOnald's face curved into a mischievous grin. "Now it's all starting to make sense."
"Yeah, ahyuk, It kinda does now." Goofy laughed.
"huh? What does?" She looked between the two. "What are you guys grinning about?"
"Think about it Sora… I think Riku's jealous." Donald hissed out a laugh between his teeth. "Jealous? No way, Donald. Why would he be jealous of Axel?" Sora frowned.
"You said you wanted to have lunch with Axel. Since you didn't mention any other names he thinks its just gonna be the two of you alone." Donald deduced.
"Yeah, and if it's just the two of yah, it kinda makes you and Axel look like a couple." Goofy continued Donald's thought.
"A cou-" Sora's face went red. "That's ridiculous! Axel and I are only friends, and if Riku's getting those kind of assumptions then he's lost his mind!" She shouted.
"Ahem!" A stern voice interrupted their conversation and all three heads looked up to see Professor Vexen standing over them. "Sora, Donald, Goofy...If you don't mind I'd like to get class started without any interruption."
A bead of sweat appeared over Sora's temple and she sat back in her seat properly and hung her head. "Y-Yes sir."
"Sorry!" Donald and Goofy spoke in sync with each other.
~Lunch~
Sora picked up her bento from her bag and stood up. Donald and Goofy gave her thumbs up of encouragement and she gave a little laugh and wave before exiting the room. She stopped by Kairi's classroom first poking her head in and smiling when she saw her getting up out of her seat. "Kairi!"
"Sora! Hey, I was just gonna go get you. Riku says he wants the three of us to have lunch on the roof together."
"Yeah he told me. So let's go meet him up there." The two girls walked together. "So how have you been? I don't get to see you much with your tennis schedule."
"Yeah I've been pretty busy." Kairi tucked her long hair back over an ear. Sora had a hard time imagining her with a ponytail. because she always thought Kairi looked best just like this, natural and sweet.
"I've missed you… I hope you do well in the tournament, i'm looking forward to seeing you play." Sora smiled at her. "The game is next week right?"
"Yeah, you'll come?" Kairi looked pleased by this fact and she walked closer to he rlaughing. "I'm so happy! I was hoping you would. I hardly get to see you anymore."
"You bet I will!" Sora raised her fist. "It's a promise! Oh speaking of which, I saw Axel yesterday at the island."
"Really? Axel? I heard about him and your sister's break up and that she's now dating Terra. Talk about bold… i was kinda sad for Axel."
"So was I, I'm not really understanding Roxas' feelings on the matte but I can tell Axel's upset by it. So I made him a promise to… I told him now that we're friends I'll be there for him when he needs me."
T"That's so like you, Sora." Kairi laughed and opened the door to the roof and hailing Riku who stood at the end watching the kids below. "Riku! We're here!"
He turned around and hailed them over. The three friends sat in a circle with each other much like they did back in middle school. Sora opened her mouth wide chewing thoroughly on her octo-weiners and sighing happily at the flavor.
"So Sora, how's the studying coming along?" Kairi asked and nearly made Sora choke. Riku reached over beating a fist across her back and relieving her.
"Oh come on Kairi not you too!"
"Sorry, I guess it's a touchy subject huh?"
"Well," she sighs and looks at her next octopus twirling it in her chopstix. "I wouldn't say it's a lost cause. Like I told everyone else I'm only having trouble in two subjects. Math and Science."
"That's still two subjects and they're the most important ones to have good grades in." Kairi explained. "Vexen and Larxene are the teachers for our grade too only they're different times. YOu think it's tough now wait til you have them for Chemistry and Geometry. They're brutal."
"It's the same with Physics and trigonometry, if you can't handle basic algebra, there's no way you'll be ready for graduation in two years."
Sora's head went cloudy and it was like a little thunder storm started to rain on her picnic. "Oh man… I have a bad premonition…"
"Don't worry, I don't have any meetings today so I'll walk home with you and we'll do some study time at your house."
Sora's face suddenly went bright and sunny. "Really? You're the best Riku, even after I yelled at you yesterday you're such a good friend!" She sniffed with emotional tears.
"Relax, you didn't hurt my feelings much. Plus you were kinda right, I was a bit harsh on you… but you gotta stay focused." He points his own chopstix at her. "No getting distracted."
"Okay! No problem! I'll be 100% focused!"
~After School~
"I'm gonna die!" Sora's eyes were swirling as she stared at the page of algebraic formulas. "Sooo many numbers and letters… how am I gonna memorize all this?"
"Calm down, Sora. You're making a big deal out of nothing." Riku tapped his pencil against her paper and trying to get her attention. "You need to just relax and pay attention to what the problem is trying to tell you." He points to the formula. "Just put in the numbers like it says here.. M equals Y two minus Y one, over X two minus X one… the numbers are all there you just have to put them in the right order."
"Okay…. so…" With her brow furrowed she starts looking at the numbers in the problem. Riku found himself staring at her face. She wasn't the brightest of people, but Sora was a determined girl, and she always tried hard even when things got difficult. He couldn't gelp but let a little smile escape his lips. "Y2 is 13, and Y1 is 4… so that'll make it 9…"
"Good that's good, now what about the X values." He watched her lips as she murmured while reading the problem. His face turned serious and he found himself leaning in, but caught himself as she began talking again, and quickly backed up.
"X2 is 6, and X1 is 3… so that would made it 9 over 3… which makes 9 divided by 3… and…" Sora tapped her pencil and then smiled. "M = 3!"
"That's it!" Riku smiled. "You did it Sora!"
"I did it! That was easy! You explain things a lot better than Larxene does, Riku. Thank you so much!" Sora laughed happily.
"Alright, alright, calm down Sora." He laughed and sat her down. "We still got some work to do, so let's try the next problem."
A knock on the door interrupted them and Sora turned her head up to see her mom walk in the door. "Hey kids, how's the studying going?"
"It's going great mom! I found the value of M! Isn't it awesome?" Sora held up the paper grinning ear to ear.
"That's my girl… oh by the way Axel's downstairs and he'd like to see you."
Riku's eyes narrowed as Sora stood up. "Axel's here? Okay I'll be right down."
"Hey, Wait, Sora we haven't finished-" Riku grabbed her hand getting on his knees to stop her.
"Just let me see what he needs okay? We can always continue this next time okay?" She hurries down the steps smiling as she Sees Axel admiring pictures on the wall. "Hey! How's it going?"
"Hey…" He reached out and rubbed her hair. "How's the studying coming?"
"Good, Riku helped me find the value of M."
"Riku, huh? So I take it the two of you kissed and made up?" He joked.
"Very funny, we didn't kiss, but we did make up." She put her hands on her hips. "So what's up?"
"Think I can steal you away from your study session? I got something I want to show you." He took her hand looking up and saluting Riku. "Hey, I'm gonna steal your student for a little while."
"That student still has studying to do, why don't you come back tomorrow?" Riku's face seemed stoic, but Axel saw the angry glint in them showing he wasn't happy about the interruption.
"Aw come on, dude, lighten up. There's plenty of time to study, I'll even help her myself. Come on, Sora, you did make me a promise, remember?"
"Yeah I did, sorry Riku, I promise I'll study extra hard when I get back!" She ran out the door with Axel.
"Sora! Sora hold on!" RIku tried stuffing his shoes on and catch up. "Damn it…" RIku growled watching the two disappear off towards the beach. "Axel. I'll get you for this."
Next chapter away! hehehe that was pretty fast. Ah as for the chain of memories story, I'm having some detail issues but the chapter should be up soon, I just need to make sure I got some things correct in storyline.
Next Chapter: Tale of the Two Tutors