(Everything that has a copyright is copyrighted to their respective owners. Now, to turn a live Sora into the most realistic plushie imaginable... I know ONE girl who's going to be VERY happy to receive it.)

Oathkeeper: Chapter Five

Real Men Wear Pink

"So... you said something about getting a job?" Sora inquired. Leon looked up from the book he was reading. He was currently, comfortably seated in the lounge. For some reason, though the clock told him it was midday, the windows told him that he may have slept through to the following night. Very curious, though that wasn't a way Sora would describe it. His exact thoughts were more along the lines of; 'Well THAT'S freaken wierd...'
"Hm? Yes, I did. Actually... I believe we already may have a job for you."
"What, already?" Just like that? Wasn't there normally something like an interview, or a resume, or... something like that?
"Perhaps. It depends on whether or not she likes you. Then again... she likes everybody so, prospects are good."
"Who?"
"Oh, you've seen her, though I doubt you've been properly introduced. She's working at the moment, but, for a new employee she should be able to spare a few moments." Someone he's seen? Who could it possibly be, out here in the middle of the universe's nowhere? He hadn't had a lot of expousure as of yet, to any people. Just Leon, Yuffie... and... wait, there was somebody.
"Uh... is it that lady who was wearing the pink dress?"
"It is. You'll be better acquainted with her soon."
"...How do you know I have the job? Have you talked to her?" Sora asked as Leon stood up, placing a bookmark in his novel, before snapping it closed and setting it on the table
"No, as a matter of fact, I haven't. However, I'm sure she won't be saying no to you. And even if she does, we could probably throw you to Cid, or I could teach yo-"
"No! If Cid gets a hold of him, I'll lose my side-kick forever!" Sora looked up to see Yuffie standing upsidedown on the ceiling at the front door. The window was open, while the door was not. Leon sighed in exasperation.
"Yuffie, use the door. It's right there, and I'm sure you know how to use it. If not, I would be glad to show you now, if it would stop my having to clean footprints off the ceiling. Please, for what may be the hundredth time."
"Oh Leon, you would understand better if you were a ninja. Doors are for suckers." She laughed haughtily to herself, as if she were a noblewoman correcting a sorely mistaken peer. Given what little Sora gathered about the ninja, that may have been exactly what was running through her head at that moment.
"Well then, I'll be sure to tell Aerith and Cid that they're both suckers. And I'll expect whatever marks you leave, gone by the time I return. Good day Yuffie. Sora, come along please."
"Ooh! Leon! Please don't tell Aerith that! She'll be so sad!"
"Well then, it would be very nice if the ceilings were clean. Very nice indeed." And he set off down the street, Sora in tow. He thought it would be best to stay silent at that point. Yuffie watched them go, and then took a bottle of pink dye out of a pouch on her belt as she walked upside-down along the hall towards where she knew Leon's room was.
"Well well Leon, your underwear drawer is so dreary... something simply must be done, before you bring a lady home and embarrass yourself. Oh don't worry! Yuffie's here to make it ALL better!" Her maniacal laughter echoed far, and though he couldn't hear it, Leon got a sense of someone walking on his grave. Though he wasn't a religious man, he hoped to the gods it was merely his imagination.

"Uh... Leon?"
"What is it?" Leon looked down at Sora, who was walking beside him down the well lit streets. They had to be well it, as that night sky was strangely... still there, and not waiting for night to come out again. Yeah, something like that.
"... There's a sun here, isn't there?"
"Huh... I actually expected that particular question sooner."
"So..."
"No, as long as I can remember, here on this world, there hasn't been a sunny day ever."
"...That is freaken weird."
"...Indeed..." A moment of silence. Then another question popped into his head.
"Hey, what do you do?"
"... What do you mean?"
"For a job? You don't kill heartless so..."
"I'm a carpenter."
"Oh... What abou-"
"Yuffie is a courier. A delivery girl." Huh, it was kind of hard imagining her doing any job as casual as that.
"Huh. does she get a lot of buisness?"
"She does indeed. You would be supprised just how much time gets shaved off a delivery when your courier can jump rooftops." Huh. It was suddenly easier to picture. Strange.
"You must get a lot of business too."
"How so?"
"Well... you kill heartless. And you kinda let on that you were famous..."
"Hm... yes, it does help my buisness some. Still... I would much rather not be famous."
"Why is that?"
"Normally it would be quite bearable, if it didn't leave me so busy." Ouch. No free time had to suck for him. He looked quite content reading that book too.
"Huh... is it like that where we're going?"
"Even if we weren't famous, I don't doubt the buisness would be quite sucessful. The food and atmosphere are wonderful."
"Oh... wait, does that mean we're going to a restaurant?"
"You're half right." Leon said cryptically as he rounded a corner. "We're here." Though he didn't point, he made a b-line towards what looked like a restaurant. A sign told Sora the place was called 'Seventh Heaven.' As they walked inside, he could see that the place was not quite a restaurant, but a bar. A lively one, with a positive air. They were seated by a waitress, who was stereotypically pretty. She seemed to be smiling quite a lot at Sora, who in responce, shrunk back into his chair and tried quite hard to turn invisible.
"My usual, please. And for you...?" Unfortunately, Sora was unable to answer, instead choosing to inch away from the waitress who wouldn't stop paying... so much... attention to him, the way she was... "Ah, it seems he's mute at the moment. Special for him."
"And what would you like to drink...?" She asked Sora. Her tone had enough sugar to rot the teeth out of his head. He still didn't know what to do about it.
"Surprise him. No alcohol."
"I can't serve to him anyway, why would you bother telling me that?"
"Making sure alcohol isn't the surprise. Oh, and if you could ask Aerith to come out? I'd like a word with her."
"Of course!" And with a wink at Sora, she bounced off to the back. Leon looked to Sora.
"You are going to have to get used to that, I'm afraid. They're all quite... overbearing. If you aren't careful, they're going to treat you like a toy."
"... Why...?"
"Well... I can just barely make out her talking to the staff in back. Aparently you're simply adorable. My condolences." Leon offered said condolences as if he was telling Sora he had some form of cancer. Sora swallowed rather nervously. He relaxed soon though, the atmosphere of the bar getting to him. Food was served, and they were informed that Aerith would be out to see them soon. Sora struck up a conversation as they waited.
"Leon, what do you think Yuffie's doing right now?"

"Mmmmm, so much pink. Don't worry Leon, now your underwear drawer is beautiful! Oh, you'll thank me! HAH!"

"Hopefully, washing the ceiling." Leon said, as he took a drink from his obviously alcoholic beverage.

"Say, they could be MUCH more beautiful then this! Why, if I sewed on just a bit of lace here and there..."

Leon shuddered.
"What was that about?" Sora asked.
"...She's probably not washing the ceiling..."
"...Okay... hey, is that her?" Sora pointed towards a woman making her way to their table. Long brown hair tied back in a braid, and a pink dress her only defining features from the distance.
"Yes, it's her." And she smiled in recognition upon spotting them. And once again, a light flush adorned Sora's cheeks. As she greeted Leon, he noticed an air about her that was subtly different then the other women in the room. Something calm, comforting. It didn't help matters that he found her exceptionally beautiful. He must have not been paying any attention at all the first time he spoke to her.
"So, what was it exactly that you wanted to see me about?" Leon in response, indicated Sora with a tilt of his head.
"Sora needs a job. And I remember you saying that you were shorthanded once. Do you think he would be acceptable?"
"Of course he would. Though... if he worked here, he may be a bit of a... distraction..." Wait, who the heck would he distract?
"Uh... who would I be holding back?"
"Simply... the entire female staff."
"Buh?"
"Well... as I was coming out, I could see every waitress we had on duty giggling and gossiping about an adorable boy with the cutest reactions any of them had ever seen. If you worked here, you would be subjected to things that, if those reactions are as unbearably precious as they say... would be for you, nothing short of the most heart stopping torture. Sora, knowing this, will you refuse the position I have in mind for you?" Her expression turned serious. She seriously looked like she was about to send Sora into a war, behind enemy lines to look for some secret document or free some prisoners, or lead a revolution! What kind of pressure was she trying to-
"Sora, calm down. Aerith is having fun with you."
"O-oh... Uh... Yeah, I'd do anything you asked me to do!"
"Oh really? Anything...?"
"...Uh... Ah... I, well..."
"Aerith, you're dispicable." The woman, under the accusation, laughed.
"Mm... even if I am, we now have Sora. Oh, that waitress was right, he's just priceless! No changing your mind now Sora." Sora couldn't help but feel as if he had just sold his soul. The rest of the meal was uneventful, but pleasent. Aerith didn't poke any more fun at Sora, and she and Leon conversed like old friends. Which... they were. Sora just stayed quiet and answered when spoken to. He didn't feel quite like he fit just yet...
"Oh, Aerith, I don't suppose you could influence Yuffie to stop walking on our ceiling? It really is getting old."
"Mm... I'll see what I can do. Perhaps if I start cleaning off her footprints she'll stop?"
"Well... hopefully she'll stop on her own. I've told her to clean off her footprints while we were gone."

"Dreary, boring, dull, ordinary- hold on... Oh... O-oh my... T-that certainly isn't boring at all... Mmm..."

"At least I hope she is." Sora then, for the first time, pipped up of his own accord.
"Uh... Leon, when we were leaving, I thought I heard her laughing... " Leon sharply turned to Sora.
"What sort of laughing?"
"Mad scientist."
"And, that's our cue to go. I shudder to think what she's done this time."

"Oh... gods... Leon, you really hid these well... and... Oh, Leon! Such..."

"Good day Aerith. Please make sure those waitress' show some restraint. Having Sora coming home every night as a quivering wreck is something I would rather not witness. The boy needs some pride."
"I make no promices Leon." And her mischevious smirk was replaced by a warm smile. "Be safe, both of you."
"You too."
"Bye!"

"Yuffie, we're home. And... there are still footprints on the ceiling. Predictable, and yet still so disapointing."
"Heya Sora! How'd it go?" Yuffie came bouncing around the corner, looking like she had just got over a fit of giggles. Leon looked at her sternly.
"Before that, Yuffie, you were supposed to clean your footprints. What were you doing that prevented you from getting that done?" Turning to Leon, her mood seemed to swing in a rather random direction, even for the rambunctious ninja. She went from on the verge of laughing to a rather interesting shade of red.
"N-nothing! I wasn't doing anything with your- nothing of yours! At all! Uh... I'm going to clean the ceiling now!" And she vanished with a puff of smoke, presumably to get cleaning supplies. Sora was confused. Not as much as Leon though.
"... She has never been this... compliant before... What happened while we were out?"
"Uh... well, maybe it had something to do with you?"
"Hm... she reacted that way to me, but why like that...? Nevermind, I'll think about this later. Maybe I don't even want to know. Sora, do you feel up to additional training? We have the rest of today to ourselves."
"Uh... sure! What are we going to work on today?"
"Well, the large swings you make with your sword are somewhat impractical if they are done as often as you use them. You need to work at making yourself less predictable. We'll work on improving your footwork later on, if we have time..."

"Sora, I left water in plain sight on the counter. Would you mind getting it for us?"
"Oh, yeah, sure!" And after a good two hours of beatings, Sora left the room for their break. As he passed the main hallway, he looked and saw Yuffie still on the ceiling, wearing slippers so no new prints would replace the ones she was cleaning. Oddly enough, she seemed to be muttering something under her breath as she did it, but it wasn't all that malicious. She was still rather red though. Maybe she was running a fever? Nah... Sora turned and walked into the kitchen, and- wait, who the hell was that?

Standing in the kitchen, pouring down his throat one of the waterbottles set out was a man Sora wasn't familiar with. Interesting enough, his chugging did nothing to disturb the cigerette in his mouth. Years of practice? Either way, the bottle was slammed down, empty, and the invader drew an arm across his mouth to dry it. A content grunt, and his eyes opened to notice Sora.
"Eh? Who the hell are you?"
"Um... who are you?"
"Doesn't matter who I am, you're waltzin' around this place like you own it. What's your buisness here?"
"Uh... I live here...?" His eyebrow raised. However, he was plainly not amused, or even satisfied by Sora's answer. This became evident when he reached out, and grabbed a staff that was leaning against the wall.
"That's bull. If you lived here, I'd know. You're trespassing." The staff had a blade on the end, Sora noticed now. And it was now leveled at his head. With the lance in one hand, and another aiding a long drag from his cigerette, he gave off the impression of a veteren fighter. The same air that surounded Leon. However it was plain, by the relaxed demeanor the man had, to see that he didn't deem Sora any sort of threat at all. "Now, you get a beating, and then I'm going to throw you out on your ass."
"No, wait, I really do live here! Just ask-"

"I don't like liars. You can piss off!" The man wasn't going to listen it looked like. Especially when he leapt forward, lance over his head to be brought down. Leon used this form of attack a few times in practice. However, Sora had a sword in his hand whenever he was able to counter, and now he was unar- FWASH – Oh, not anymore. Barely managing to block the swing, Sora jumped back, adrenelin pumping through his system, and fighting techniques he knew loosely from Leon's tutalage running thorugh his mind. He didn't know what tutalage meant though, but that word's meaning wasn't half as important then the followup swing aimed at his side! 'Clang! "Eh?! Where the bloody hell did you grab that sword from?!" Another attack at his ankles. Sora jumped over it, and whipped the Keyblade out at the man's neck. Blocked, easily. And before Sora knew what had happened, he took the butt of the lance in his stomach, and again to the back of his head. His vision went dark as the Keyblade fell from his hand.

"Huh. Kid's not bad." But, he was a few years too early to be taking anyone on, that was for sure. Maybe heartless... "Well, you picked the wrong house to break into." The man grabbed the unknown boy and shouldered him. Picking up his spear in his other hand, he adjusted the boy's weight, and strode down the hall, fully intent on throwing the intruder out onto the sidewalk. Still, wherever that sword came from bothered him. The kid was unarmed one second, and defending himself the next. "Fukkin' tricks... bad enough Yuffie's hiding a hundered sha... sho... throwing stars. The hell was he thinking, trying to hit me with a toy?"
"Hit you with a what? Wait, what's Sora doing on your back?"
"Yuffie? Wait, you know this bastard?"
"You don't?! What did you do Cid?!" Yuffie was angry. Feh, girl had a temper like a bomb. Only thing it seemed good for was exploding. This was nothing new.
"He was walkin' around like he lived here. He even said he did. I'm throwin' his ass out."
"Cid, you put him down this instant! He does live here!"
"...The hell?" Nevertheless, Cid slowly lowered Sora's prone body to the ground. Yuffie sat him up with a hand on the back of his head, trying to revive him. Then she felt the lump forming from where Cid had struck him.
"CID! I'll never forgive you for this!"
"Yuffie, what's going on no-... Sora?" Leon had just walked out of the dojo, probably looking to see what was taking his student so long. The scene in front of him left Leon baffled.
"Look what Cid did to poor Sora! He killed my sidekick!"
"Killed him?! He's fukkin' knocked out! You're blind!"
"Cid why did you hurt Sora?" Cid huffed in annoyance at Leon's calm inquiry.
"Never see the kid before today, and he's telling me that he lives here, what the fuck else do you expect me to do? I'm not about to give him a welcome basket!"
"Sora, wake up! That old man couldn't have clobbered you that hard!"
"You wanna be next, ya ninja wannabe?"
"Wannabe? WANNABE?!"
"Be silent." Leon was angry. It showed, in his eyes. And in the way the two obeyed, albeit differently. Yuffie settled for glaring at the Cid. Cid, huffed a second time, and turned to Leon.
"...Leon, what's goin' on here?" Leon sighed, and picked up Sora, handling him with more care then the surly lance-fighter. He began walking back toward to living room, and offered his explination on the way.
"Sora is a resident of a world that died, four or five nights ago. He's capable of fighting heartless, and he's expressed an interest in helping us. I've given him a room." As Leon walked by the Keyblade, Yuffie lifted it off the ground, taking the rare oppritunity to actually take a good look at the legendary item. It... didn't feel right in her hands. Like she had been rejected, or something like that... It had an even weight, and if there was a blade, instead of the other end of a key, she surmised that it would look formidable. As it stood though... the appearence opted toward something more childish.
"I sent him out for water, while I was training him. He didn't come back. It looks like he won't be learning anything more today." Leon finished, laying the boy on the couch, on his side. "Yuffie, could you please get me some ice?"
"Anything for my sidekick!"
"Leave the Keyblade, please."
"Kay..." And she handed the sword to Leon. Cid's cigerette fell out of his mouth.
"...You're not serious, are you? That kid was chosen? ...And that's the Keyblade? It looks-"
"We know what it looks like, but it's legitimate. How else could he have survived his world breaking?"
"...Well, he isn't strong. But neither are a lot of people here. A strong heart only makes it more likely he grabs onto a world. Everybody else got by on random chance."
"Everybody else didn't start fighting heartless off as soon as they woke up. And... everybody else doesn't have a sword they can pull out of the air. I don't know if it's a defining trait of the Keyblade, but... a weapon that makes him strong enough to fight heartless on his own sounds like a Keyblade to me."
"...I don't like this. He's a rookie. Better off we put him in the shelter, and wait for somebody to take him into a family." Cid scoffed. "Not that there are any actual families here anymore."
"Here you go Leon!"
"Thank you. Go put that on Sora's head."
"Alright... one thing still gets me though." Cid said, taking a drag on his cigerette. He didn't often actually smoke in the house, but after hearing about the Keyblade, he couldn't help but light up. Leon and Yuffie didn't blame him for a second. "He's been here for... four or five days now? I was in the shop for that long, working on a ship. Nobody came to tell me that there was another kid in the house?" Silence. Yuffie disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Leon wished he knew how to do the same.
"We can't just put him in a shelter. The heartless are drawn to the Keyblade when it appears. And it will appear if he has to defend himself. And if the Keyblader were to be overwhelmed...?"
"Ah. That shit about the prophecy?"
"I don't believe in it either. But nobody can deny that the appearence of a mythical weapon is unimportant. Sora's survival is going to be a priority for a while."
"Well of course it is." Cid smirked. "Can't have our first rookie dyin' on us. Yuffie'd never let us hear the end of it."
"She'd be very angry. She seems to have grown attached to the boy. As have... every girl in Seventh Heaven. Perhaps Aerith too."
"Well shit. Anything happens to the kid, and we're going to be mauled by a mob of angry women."
"And a ninja. And... Aerith still has that summoning materia..."
"Heh! Yuffie would never hurt either of us!"
"Yuffie has other methods of revenge." Leon said, rather solemly.
"Knowing her, she'd dye all your underwear pink!" Leon couldn't help but chuckle, before suddenly getting very paranoid.
"...Excuse me, I'll be right back."

"YUFFIE!"
"Yes Leon?" Oh, that sweet tone wouldn't save her this time.
"Explain this." The irate man said, holding up a pair of now pink boxers.
"Well... you see, your underwear drawer was so boring, what with only the greys and blacks... I decided it needed some color! But I only had one color to use."
"Explain this." He now gestured at the lace, that ran along the waistband.
"Lace looks good with pink. And white, but I didn't have any bleach."
"Explain this." He then held up something a little different. Something that would be floating in and out of Yuffie's dreams for quite a while. Something, that Yuffie saw no reason to change actually.
"Well, that wasn't boring at all so I didn't even touch it! Why are you blaming me?!"
"It wasn't where I left it." Leon's eye twitched. "I want to know what else you've seen."
"Bad question. You should be asking me what I haven't seen."

Cid had moved an ashtray to the coffee table, and cracked a window next to where he sat. He was premitted a few smokes, but even he could appreciate that some didn't like the fumes. He looked at Sora again. The kid looked like nothing. But then... at one time, he supposed each member of their exclusive club was nothing as well, Cid mused. What would Sora become, after years of fighting evil?
"No! Leon, please don't tell Aerith! She'll never forgive me!"
"I'll never forgive you."
"I don't care, just don't tell Aerith!" Oh wonderful. Daddy couldn't control the kid, so he was going to go tell Mommy. This was going to turn into something entertaining.
"Hey, kid, wake up." A couple light shakes to the prone figure, and it stirred finally.
"Uh... what? Wait, you-"
"Hang on, I don't want to miss this. And you don't either. Call it a peace offering." Sora quirked his eyebrows in confusion, but figured since the man wasn't holding a spear this time, it would be fine. He looked over to where Cid was watching. Aerith had just come home from the bar. Yuffie was in histarics, and Leon was seething. As least Sora thought he was. The man was like the side of a refrigerator sometimes. Blank. However, the scene that resulted would be something that Cid and Sora would laugh about for a long time after. Best peace offering ever.