The Ordinary Life of Sora

Chapter 6

The silence was comfortable as Xion and I made our way home.

Sure, things had gotten a bit hectic earlier but everything was fine now. Xion had decided to join the club and seemed genuinely happy. The way her mouth was curved upwards and the slight bounce on her step told me all I needed to know.

I guess knowing her to this extent came with the 'childhood friend' status.

It wasn't until her blue eyes stared into mine that I realized I had been staring. I quickly averted my gaze, not wanting to look weird.

Instead I appreciated the orange glow the street seemed to have only on this time of day.

"You're acting weird again." Xion pointed out with a hint of amusement in her voice.

Humph, I guess she hadn't forgotten about what happened.

"Is Namine being too mean to you?"

Something about her tone irked me. It sounded as if she was amused by the whole thing… wait a minute!

"Hey, Xion. Why did you join the club in the first place?"

She looked at me with a small smile before cocking her head to the side in a cute way. "Because it's fun."

Dammit, why can she never give me a straight answer. "What's fun?"

"The club."

Okay Sora just breath for a moment and maybe she'll stop.

After regaining my composure, I glanced at Xion once more, noticing her eyes light up in amusement. "Can't you just tell me?"

She smirked. "Tell you what?"

I-I'm… I'm going to go insane. Between Namine's ideas of fun and Xion's mental abuse, I'm sure I'll end up cowering under some table, eating scrapes of food and walking around town in my underwear.

Xion snorted as she clamped a hand on my shoulder. "You're too easy to tease Sora, no wonder Namine's doing it."

"…"

"Oh come on, don't get mad Sora." A small giggle escaped her mouth as she clasped both hands in front of her chest, the wind ruffling her hair and her eyes glowing against the light. It wasn't until now that I realize just how cute Xion could be.

… Dammit, what the hell was that?

Anyway, maybe she'll answer this time. "So, why did you join the club?"

The way she looked at me, I could tell for a fact she wanted to keep annoying me but didn't do so for some reason. Instead she looked ahead and put both hands behind her head.

"Well… the people in your club are interesting."

The hell with that! Was she saying that Namine, okay maybe I get where she's coming from, but Roxas? Bipolar Roxas with a grudge against me? That Roxas?

He was probably the most straightforward person that I know, nothing interesting about him.

She laughed a little as her gaze fell on me once again. "You probably don't believe what I'm saying but just listen for a bit."

My skeptical demeanor vanished with those simple words. Xion had moments where she showed wisdom over the little things and by the way her expression softened as she looked at the sky, I could tell this would be one of those moments.

"Why do you think Namine got you to join?"

A simple question. "Because I fell for her trick?"

She smiled. "I'm sorry but your answer is wrong."

Huh?

"I've seen others fall for Namine's tricks but you're the first one she approached. I bet you don't have a clue of why she did and I don't either, but that's what makes her interesting. Why did she approach you of all people?"

Good question but at the moment I was more concerned with Namine terrorizing students. And for that matter, why weren't any teachers doing anything about it?

"As for Roxas. Well… why does he seem to hang around you all the time?" I prepared to answer but she raised a hand, shaking her head as she did so. "No, it's not because he thinks you'll steal Namine away. Let's face it you just don't have the goods to compete against him."

Hey! I'm standing right here!

"The truth is that he may feel connected with you somehow." She seemed to notice the way my face scrunched up in disgust before rolling her eyes. "Not like that. But something like he might know you from before or something similar."

"So in conclusion…" I sighed as I rubbed the bridge of my nose. "You joined the club because you're, well, bored."

She only smiled and kept on walking.

After dropping Xion off, I decided to look around town once again. My first time had gone a bit wrong but this second time… well I knew a bit of the streets now so I wouldn't get too lost.

As I set off to look around the streets I couldn't help but think back at what Xion told me. It was true she was bored and decided to join the club but the things she had said hadn't been all lies. She was a pretty good observer after all.

Xion was the kind of person to just sit back and enjoy the ride. Sometimes adding into some kind of drama by using what she had found out about people without them knowing. But her skills didn't stop there, she could also use those same observations to get people into trouble.

I'm not sure how she did it but she would find a way to make people admit something unknowingly, it was like a sort of art.

Last time she did that a teacher had been expelled and… well he can't get near schools anymore.

Anyway, the point of the story is that Xion is a pretty keen observer and her thoughts on Namine and Roxas might not be wrong.

She probably knew more than she let on but I didn't want to press her, I knew how it would end already. With me asking questions and not getting an answer until at least twenty minutes.

"Hey it's you Sora!"

Hm? I turned to the owner of the voice to see Yuffie running towards me.

"Are you always outside?"

She laughed before slapping my shoulder. "Of course. Why should I be cooped up inside when the world is still moving out here."

"I guess you're right."

I began to walk and found Yuffie to do the same. My eyes fell on her for a few seconds before I turned back to the road ahead, it was a bit weird to have her go off with the first person she sees but it wasn't like she was bad company.

"So Sora." Yuffie suddenly spoke, making me turn back to her to see an exited smile on her face. "I haven't introduced you to my friend have I?"

Where did that come from? I really have no idea how her mind works.

"No you haven't."

She smiled before pointing to a large plaza. It was surrounded by buildings and had a few shops. Probably a market.

"I left her sitting over there." She laughed to herself before placing a hand on my back and pushing me along with her. "Come on, let's go meet her. She's really cute so try not to fall in love."

"I don't think I will." Was my reply as images of what Yuffie might consider a friend began to appear. Let's just say I was not really looking forward to it.

She led me to a bench next to a tree, assuring me that her friend was there before her eyes widened and she pulled me behind a large bush. I would have asked why she did that but it would be of no use. In my short time here I knew better than to try to reason with her.

Yuffie held a look of pure excitement as she inched closer to me, eyes staring straight into mine. "I just had a great idea. We're going to trick her!"

"Trick her how?"

She laughed to herself as she crossed her arms. "Just leave that to me and play along."

Leave it to her…

I pondered on the idea but, as I stated before, Yuffie was already set on doing what she wished and was pulling me along with her again.

Well, it could be worse.

So, as she pulled me against my will though I didn't put up much of a fight, we made it to the bench and I felt myself go wide-eyed.

Sitting on the bench was a redheaded beauty. Flowing silky hair that glistened with the afternoon light, blue eyes with a hint of surprise and a blush on her cheeks.

"Yuffie you're back." She spoke in a calm manner, her voice soothing and only adding to her overall appeal. Her eyes turned to me, almost making me yelp in surprise. "Nice to meet you. I'm Kairi. Are you a friend of Yuffie's?"

I tried to answer but Yuffie beat me to it, throwing a hand over my shoulders and leaning against me.

"Yes Kairi, I should tell you that this is my secret lover."

What!

"What?" Kairi voice my thoughts with a look of pure shock.

Yuffie smiled proudly before pushing me in front of her. "See. Doesn't he remind you of a puppy?"

"Um, hi. I'm right here."

She only laughed and dropped her hold on me. "This here is Sora. He's really funny."

"Oh, really?" Kairi smiled awkwardly.

Dammit Yuffie! Why are you making me look like a weirdo?

"But did you buy the thing we needed?"

Yuffie laughed. "I didn't."

With that she simply left, her steps quick as she passed by groups of people. Leaving me alone with this Kairi girl.

She seemed to be a bit uncomfortable before smiling at me. "So how long have you and Yuffie gone out?"

Damn you Yuffie.

Kairi giggled lightly. "So that's what she was doing." She turned to me and gave me a smile. "Sorry about her she's a bit too quick to do things. She probably forgot about your plan halfway through and didn't bother explaining anything."

"It't no problem really. She's kind of fun to be around."

A few minutes after Yuffie left me with Kairi for no apparent reason, I took it upon myself to explain just what was going on. Come on, I didn't want her to get the bad idea, it wasn't like I wanted to make myself available or anything I just wanted to clear things.

What followed was uncomfortable silence. I shifted in my feet while Kairi tried to avert her gaze. Dammit, where was Yuffie, what was she getting anyway?

I guess I'll have to do something. There's nothing I hate more than this type of silence so I would go with the usual, 'oh crap I have something to do' line and bolt out of there.

"Oh-"

"Hey?" Kairi interrupted without knowing. She placed both hands on her lap before fidgeting slightly. "Yuffie has talked a lot about you. Saying that you are a really nice guy that does requests for people."

What? That was a new one.

It did make sense thought.

I was almost always surrounded by weird people, helping them out with problems and others stuff. It wasn't voluntary of course but I can understand why Yuffie would come to that conclusion.

Kairi kept her gaze on me probably expecting me to answer.

Sure, why not? It was only one more person, how bad could it be?

"Yeah, I do."

Kairi let out a sigh of relief. "Good." She smiled at me before clasping my hands, looking at me in what seemed to be determination. "Then I have a request."

I don't know why but, seeing people walk by and give us odd looks, makes me feel like a bride being proposed to.

Of course we weren't a couple, roles were reversed and I was more uncomfortable than happy, but the feeling was still there more or less.

"What is it?"

"I need you to help me with um…" She looked away with a blush on her face, her eyes meeting mine before darting away.

Great, just what I needed. Judging by the way she acted I guess whatever she wanted to ask was embarrassing. Exactly why did I agree to this?

She took in a deep breath before letting it out in a shaky breath. "I'm sorry. I know it's sudden and to ask such a thing. But I'm really desperate at this point and-"

"Just tell me." I managed without a glare or irritation in my voice. It was a bit hard since I'm starting to feel annoyed by this stammering girl.

"I want you to…"

Okay Sora you can handle Xion, this girl shouldn't even compare to the kind of torture she puts you through. So just take a deep breath and forget about it. Ha ha. The world is your playground, no need to get angry.

By this time Kairi finally gathered her courage speaking her request so quietly I was barely able to hear it.

"Please help me get together with Riku, the boy I like."