Title: 100 Steps To Somewhere
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts
Claim: Cloud/Riku
Theme: 039. Stress
Word Count: 3,951
Rating: M
Summary: It was a day of firsts, and the perfect ending to a perfectly miserable day.
Disclaimer: I wish, okay? It's all lies. I don't own Kingdom Hearts, I don't know anyone who owns Kingdom Hearts, and I am not affiliated with anyone who is affiliated with anyone who owns Kingdom Hearts. I think that about covers it.
Step Thirty-Nine: Firsts
When they finished painting the orphanage, Riku thought Cloud would cheer up. As the holiday season approached, he grew quieter, more distant, and more reserved. Riku tried to get him to talk—maybe prodded more than he should—but Cloud remained quiet. He considered asking Leon about Cloud's mood, but decided against it. More likely than not, Leon would say that Cloud was just moody like this and it was nothing out of the ordinary. Riku thought that, perhaps, it really was nothing, but when Cloud didn't revel in no longer having to paint, Riku worried.
The Christmas season was supposed to be a festive occasion full of comfort and joy, or at least that's what that one carol claimed. You were supposed to spend it with your friends and family. Peace on earth, good will toward men. There was supposed to be laughter, hot chocolate, and chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Sure, Riku had never experienced most of these things, but he'd always assumed that had something to do with the climate of Destiny Islands. It was already hot during Christmas, and the last things they needed were hot beverages and open fires.
Christmas this year was supposed to be different. He wouldn't be able to spend this time with his family, and so he hoped the magic of those classic Christmases would make up for it. There was already a large evergreen in the Hollow Bastion market. Wreaths, mistletoe, candles, and a small tree decorated the house he shared with Cloud and Leon. The weather was windy and cold—freezing, one might call it. Riku had no idea the temperature could be so frigid. Excitement would have built within him as the season approached, the days got shorter, and the forecast called for snow, but Cloud was moody. His high expectations were currently grounded.
On a Saturday morning, Riku woke to the warm smell of cookies wafting through the house. The spot in bed beside him was vacant and no longer warm. Riku frowned, searching for the time. He got out of bed to find Leon in the kitchen mixing bowl after bowl of batter. Pans of unbaked cookies were everywhere. On the sofa in the living room were two large cardboard boxes marked 'ornaments.'
"We're decorating the tree today," said Leon.
"What time is it?"
"Eleven. You slept late. For you, anyway."
"Where's Cloud?"
"He went out to help Aerith with decorating the market. Don't worry; he'll be back to help with the tree."
"When did he get up? I mean . . . I'm just usually up first."
"I got him up around eight to help me with the cookies, but then Aerith came over. I was going to get you up, but he told me to let you sleep."
"Oh."
Riku fidgeted. He looked around the area and took a seat at the counter. A cigarette slid from his pack and he lit up.
"That's an awful lot of cookies for just us."
"I'm making them for the kids at the orphanage, too."
"Tifa just about got them all moved in, then?"
"Yeah. Aerith is going to help out there, too. She's planning a Christmas party for the kids. It's rough this time of year—not having a family, and everything."
Riku nodded.
"Yeah . . ."
"I guess you're in that boat this year, too."
"Yeah. I mean . . . I guess I could go home, but . . ."
"Darkness in your heart. Can't face them. Sure."
"Does Cloud . . . I mean . . . does he . . .?"
"Get weird this time of year?"
". . . Yeah."
"Cloud gets weird whatever time of year he feels like getting weird. It isn't limited to Christmas."
"I figured you'd say something like that."
"You've noticed he's moody."
"Of course I've notice. He's my boyfriend."
"Trouble in paradise?"
Riku shrugged.
"Eh . . . you probably don't want to hear about it."
"Not having sex or something?"
"Something like that?"
"What? He's backed off on the cuddle talk?"
"You could say that."
Leon frowned.
"No sex. No sweet talk. What does he do?"
"Falls asleep with his back to me and says nothing if I ask him what's wrong. He actually snapped at me yesterday to stop asking."
Leon shook his head.
"Have you tried to talk to him about it?"
"Of course. He doesn't want to talk."
"I warned him about this . . ."
"Huh?"
"Let's just say that this is a very Cloud-like thing to do."
"What do you mean?"
"Pull away from something good. Get close to someone and then run away because it scares him. Thinks he's not good enough. Beats himself up. Worries too much; thinks too much. Tries to avoid pain by distancing himself from being emotionally involved, only he does it too late so he ends up hurting more."
"This is a very Cloud-like thing to do?"
"Yes. Congratulations, Riku. You're officially a very important person to him."
"Him being really distant makes me officially very important?"
"Yes. You've officially crossed the Cloud hurdle from boyfriend to serious boyfriend. Now you get to meet the Cloud we all know and love."
"So when you call him moody . . ."
"I wasn't talking about how he's been since he's been with you, that's for sure. He and I weren't close for years because he's so removed. I tried to warn him not to do this shit with you, but he just doesn't listen. I told him to just be happy and take it for what it is, but no. He has to pull this crap."
"So what should I do?"
"Force him to talk to you."
"What if he yells at me?"
Leon shrugged.
"Yell back."
----------0----------
Cloud spoke little since returning from market. He muttered under his breath a lot about decorating and his back, but if Leon or Riku tried to start conversation, he ignored it. Riku tried to catch his eye on several occasions when the time came to decorate the tree, but Cloud averted his eyes. He answered questions in as few syllables as possible. At one point, Riku caught Cloud looking his way. Riku offered a small smile, but Cloud looked away before the gesture could be received.
Leon passed Cloud on his way to the sofa for more strings of lights, and as he did so, he leaned toward him and said, "You're sabotaging it."
Cloud glared.
Later in the night Riku followed Cloud into the bedroom and began undressing for bed. As Riku slid into his pajama pants, he watched from the mirror as Cloud grabbed a book from the nightstand. Riku turned.
"You're going to read?"
Cloud glanced up.
"Yeah. Why?"
"I don't know. I just thought we could . . ." Riku bit his lip. "I don't know."
"If you don't know, then neither do I."
Riku frowned, approached the bed, and sat. Cloud went back to his book.
"You know . . . Leon's probably in bed by now."
"Yeah."
His shoulders shrugged forward.
"We're all by ourselves."
"We usually are at night."
Riku pouted. Cloud hadn't looked up from his book again. He moved closer and stretched his body out on his side. He propped his head on his hand and stared up. Cloud's eyes moved from the pages to look down at Riku.
"Can I help you?"
"I just thought . . ." Riku took the book from Cloud's hands and laid it upside down, still open, on the nightstand. He returned his arm to wrap it around Cloud's hips. "You know . . . it's been over a week. Not since we went Christmas shopping. And it's been awfully cold. I thought maybe we could heat things up a little."
Cloud stared.
"I'm trying to read."
"Wouldn't you rather have sex?"
Cloud sighed.
"What with you?"
Riku frowned.
"What's with me? What's with you?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You've been all moody and miserable for days now, and every time I try to ask you what's wrong you tell me that it's nothing."
"That's because it is nothing."
"I'm not blind. I can tell something's bothering you."
"Yes, but it's nothing so I don't want to bother you with it."
"I just wish you'd talk to me."
"I don't want to talk to you."
Riku sat up.
"Excuse me?"
"I said—"
"Yeah, I heard you the first time. I'm not deaf, either. What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means I don't want to talk to you about it."
"Why not?"
"Because it's nothing."
"If it's bothering you then it has to be something."
"Well it's not."
Riku shrugged.
"Fine."
"Fine."
Cloud snatched his book from the nightstand. Riku glared at the wall for a few seconds, shifted his position, glared, and shifted some more.
"Would you sit still?" said Cloud.
"Would you tell me what's bothering you? It's driving me crazy."
"No."
"Then I'm not going to bother to try sitting still for you."
Cloud glared over the top of his book.
"You really want to know what's bothering me?"
Cloud set the book back on the nightstand. Riku turned.
"Yes."
"Okay. You."
"Excuse me?"
"Yeah. Because it was nothing, but now it is something because of you, so yeah . . . you. You're bothering me."
"Why am I bothering you?"
"Because you won't shut up? Because you keep asking me what's wrong even when I tell you it's nothing to be worried about?"
"Oh, excuse me for being concerned."
"Being concerned is one thing. Being in my face all the time and not giving me room to breathe is another."
"I'm not in your face all the time."
"Yes, you are. It was nothing, but then you had to go and make it something."
"I only started asking you what was wrong after you started acting weird."
"I'm not acting weird. I'm acting just like me. Just ask any of my friends."
"Yeah, I know. You're miserable, distant, and always beating yourself up over stupid shit. I've heard."
"Then you should know I haven't been acting weird."
"But you haven't ever been like this toward me, and I want to know what's wrong. I don't see what wrong with that."
"There wasn't anything wrong. I told you it was nothing, and it was. I was just a little irritated with you being around all the fucking time."
"I thought you liked having me here?"
"I do, but I'm kind of a loner. I like my personal space. I like having time to myself, and I don't get that with you. You're here all the fucking time. I can't get away from you. I can't even sit in the same room as you and do something without you yapping straight through it, but it was nothing. I just figured I wasn't used to it, or I'm so stressed out with all the Christmas stuff that it was just getting to me more than usual. Whatever it was, it was going to pass so I didn't want to say anything and upset you, but you had to keep nagging at me and making it worse."
"Well I'm sorry I'm in your way all the time. Maybe I should go back to the realm of darkness again or something and then I won't be yapping at you anymore."
"That isn't even what I said. Did you even listen to what I just said to you?"
"Yeah. I'm nagging you and in your personal space all the fucking time."
"No. I said it was nothing and that it was going to pass. That was the entire point."
"I thought the entire point was how it would have passed if I wasn't such a nag."
"If you aren't going to listen to what I have to say, there's no point to this conversation."
"Yes, there is. You're an asshole. I've been picking up after you, feeding you, getting you your coffee, and doing everything else under the goddamn sun for you, and all you can do is pull away and then bitch about me nagging at you."
"I never said you had to do any of that stuff, and I've thanked you countless times for it. What do you want from me? To worship your almighty greatness?"
"I never said that."
"Then what was the point of that? To make me feel bad for being annoyed?"
"I'm not trying to make you feel bad."
"Then what are you trying to do, because your entire point has escaped me?"
"I just meant that I don't know why you have to bitch about me trying to find out what's bothering you when I've been trying so damn hard to do nice things for you."
"I wasn't bitching about you. I told you it was nothing."
"Look, I really don't want to fight with you . . ."
"Then stop."
"I didn't start this."
"Yes, you did. I was trying to read and mind my own business. You turned nothing into something. You started the arguing. Are you noticing a pattern here?"
"And all I did was try to get you to fuck me."
"No, you tried to use sex to get me to talk to you."
"No, actually, I really wanted to have sex."
"I can't imagine why if I've been such an asshole."
"Because I wanted to feel close to you again."
"Close? You want to feel close? I feel smothered."
"That's because you're emotionally distant and afraid that if you get too attached to me, everything's going to go to hell."
"Kind of just did, but thanks for that assessment on my psychology."
"Anytime."
"I'm not afraid of getting too attached to you."
"Yes, you are. It's that stupid bullshit I have to listen to you moan about where you're always torn between who you are and who you think you should be. You think you shouldn't have to talk about your feelings because that's girl stuff, and you can't be too attached because that's girl stuff, too, but I have news for you, Cloud. We don't have to talk about our relationship or where it's going, and I don't need an hourly update on your emotions, but if something is bothering you it's healthy to talk about it."
"What is it with you and this talking about your feelings is healthy thing? It's not healthy to talk about something bothering me when it's inconsequential and doesn't need to be said because it's going to go away on its own, especially if it'll hurt your feelings. It's stupid. And you have to listen to me moan about bullshit? What about you and the darkness? What about you and that retarded fight with your friend? You should beat yourself up more often. Maybe then you'd do less stupid things."
"So me and the darkness was bullshit, was it? That's funny coming from someone whose darkness took on its own living, breathing entity. I know I've done stupid shit, but I accept that I can't change it and move on. The darkness wasn't even my problem. My problem was being weak—kind of like you."
"Did you just call me weak?"
"Well Sephiroth is still kicking, isn't he?"
"I can't believe you'd bring Sephiroth into this when you've still got Ansem in your heart. You know, maybe that's why you're acting like such a brat."
"Did you just call me a brat?"
"Yeah. You're age is really showing right now."
"I can't believeyou would bring my age into this."
"I'm just in awe. You really are a sixteen-year old kid shooting your mouth off, aren't you?"
"Fuck you."
"Yeah, fuck you, too."
"I can't believe you."
"You know what? You just really need to stop talking right now because I don't think I can stand to listen to your voice anymore."
"Not a surprise considering I'm probably in your face again."
"You just don't know how to take a hint, do you?"
"You're the one who started this crap in the first place, and now you're pulling this shit on me?"
"And you're still talking . . ."
"Fine. I can see when I'm not wanted."
"Took you long enough."
"I don't even want to look at you anymore."
"Great. That means you're leaving, right?"
"I can't stand you right now."
"So go, and take your mouth with you."
Riku huffed, stood, and crossed the room. The door slammed behind him. He made it halfway to the couch before he burst into tears.
"Come on."
Riku looked up to see Leon walking across the living room. He grabbed his jacket from by the door, slid it on, and handed Riku his coat.
"You heard?" said Riku.
"I think half of Hollow Bastion heard. Come on."
"Where are we going?"
"For a walk. Clear your head."
Riku hung his head, nodded, and followed Leon out the door.
----------0----------
They walked to the marketplace, down around the river (Riku burst into a fresh batch of tears), and by the time they got back to the borough, the waterworks tapered off. Leon and Riku sat on the steps leading from the marketplace into the borough.
"I shouldn't have yelled back," said Riku. "I shouldn't have nagged. I didn't even mean half of it. I mean, yeah, I meant it at the time, but . . ."
"Don't let it get to you," said Leon. "It'll be all right."
"He probably hates me now."
"First fight, then?"
"We've had disagreements before, but . . ."
"Not like that?"
Riku sighed.
"Guess I'll be leaving."
Leon raised an eyebrow.
"Why would you be leaving?"
"You heard him."
"Yeah. You had a fight. I had no idea you were both so defensive. Or so cutthroat."
Riku shrugged.
"I just don't want to be around if we aren't together, you know? I don't think I could handle it."
"Why wouldn't you be together?"
"You heard it."
Leon nodded.
"Yeah. I just don't understand why you'd break up over something trivial like that. Not if you love each other as much as you say."
"But . . . but we just . . ."
"Had a fight. Fights don't mean that you break up. They're fights. You'll go back. You'll both be calmed down. You'll apologize, talk it out, assure each other that you didn't mean most of it, and that will be that." Leon laughed. "That was a hell of a first fight, too. You're in for some amazing make up sex."
Riku stared.
"But . . ."
"Welcome to an adult relationship, Riku. Fights don't equate with a break up."
"But I said that stuff about Sephiroth, and . . ."
"And he pulled a dig at your age. Your age doesn't bother him, and you don't think he's weak."
"I actually think he's the strongest person I've ever met."
"You both got ridiculously carried away over something that was really trivial. I mean, sure, he had a point. If he was just feeling a little suffocated, wanted some time to himself, but didn't want to hurt your feelings by saying so because it was probably temporary, then he was right not to tell you. It could've been handled better, though, because he showed that he was irritated, and that hurt you, anyway."
"He could've just asked for a little alone time. I like alone time, too. I would have understood."
"And when you apologize, you'll talk about that, and then the next time one of you feels a little suffocated it'll go better."
"You really think he's not going to break up with me?"
"By this point he's probably wondering where the hell you went and worrying that you actually left Hollow Bastion instead of just the house."
"I wish I wouldn't have said the things I did."
"Let him know that. Now I'm going home. You coming?"
Riku nodded. He trailed after Leon down the steps and around the alleyways to the house. The lights were on in the living room, and the door opened before they even reached it. Cloud stepped out, pulling his jacket around his shoulders.
"Where were you?" he said.
"I took Riku for a walk," said Leon. He patted Cloud on the shoulder. "He's all yours."
Leon stepped inside and closed the door behind him. Cloud shivered and pulled the jacket tighter. Riku bit his lip and stared at the ground.
"Hey . . ." said Cloud.
"Hey."
"I . . . I just . . . I've been thinking a lot since you've been gone, and . . ."
Riku nodded.
"Yeah."
"Yeah?"
"I get it."
Cloud frowned.
"Get what?"
"That you don't want me around anymore."
Cloud smiled, stepped forward, and wrapped Riku in a hug.
"You're an idiot. I was going to say that I was sorry."
Riku inhaled and stepped closer. The scent was overwhelming, and he buried his nose farther into Cloud's coat.
"I'm sorry, too."
"I should have just talked to you instead of letting it get to me."
"It's okay. I overreacted."
"I won't keep things from you from now on, okay?"
"I'll try to give you more space. I like being by myself a lot, too, I just . . . I just really love being with you."
"I love being with you, too. It's the holiday season, you know? All this restoration stuff. It's got me in a terrible mood being around so many people to begin with that when I'm just with you . . . I'm sorry. I've just been taking it out on you, and I promise I'll be better."
"I'm sorry I called you weak."
"I'm sorry I called your problems with the darkness bullshit."
"I'm sorry I brought up Sephiroth."
"Nothing you said wasn't true. I'm sorry I mentioned Ansem."
Riku shrugged.
"You were right about that, too."
"It just hurts more that it's true."
Riku nodded.
"I really don't think you're weak."
"I honestly don't remember half of what I said to you, just that I was really defensive and on a mission to hurt you."
"It worked."
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I was out to hurt you, too."
"You succeeded."
"Doesn't make me feel better."
"Can we not fight like that again?"
"Yes, please. I don't want to go through that again. I'm so sorry, Cloud."
"I'm sorry, too."
They stood there for a few seconds in the silence, Cloud's arms around Riku, holding him close to his body. The heat, the smell was intoxicating, and then the silence broke. Cloud barked out a laugh, squeezed Riku tighter, and then his arms fell away.
"What?"
Cloud pointed.
"It's snowing."
Riku's head snapped around to see the white, crystallized flakes falling from the sky. The melted as they hit the ground. Cloud grinned.
"I hope it doesn't start to lay or Leon's going to throw a fit."
"It's so pretty."
"It does have a magical quality to it, doesn't it?"
"Yeah . . ."
"You tend to forget after being around it so long."
Riku looked to Cloud and grinned. The snowflakes fell, dusting the collar and shoulders of Cloud's coat. He glanced to Riku and smiled. His arm extended around Riku as he pulled him to his side; Riku let his head fall to Cloud's shoulder as he stared at the sky.
"You know, I think you've gotten taller," said Cloud.
"Yeah?"
Cloud nodded.
"I'm happy I get to share this with you," said Riku.
Cloud nodded again.
"Perfect ending to a miserable day, huh?"
"Yeah . . ."
They fell silent, huddled together as they watched the first snowfall of the season.
First I must say to everyone: Thank you for your unending patience. I know it's only been a few days, really, but it feels like forever. This chapter took two days to write because when I first sat down to do it, Riku just wasn't in the mood to argue, and it really had to happen. They've been together for. . .what? Thirty-eight chapters now without a serious fight? Over something trivial? I know I can't go two weeks without having a fight with my best friend over nothing. It was bound to happen, plus I think it's an important milestone in a relationship--the first fight. I knew it had to get nasty, too, because I think that it happens a lot where we say things we don't really mean or would say if we weren't riled up, but then the word vomit comes spilling out and even as we say it we really know we shouldn't. I think Riku has already proved he's this way through the entirety of KH1, so hey . . . why not? And I will let you know (though I think it already shows) that this will bring them closer together.
And now that that lengthy load of schlop is out of the way:
Koji Inari: I know you left a review for this, and I believe I sent you a PM already, but the site isn't showing me your review so I'll just take this space to say thank you for all your kind words, and I really appreciate your support as I stumble my way through this story.
shini: Leon does need to get laid, and I was thinking about the Yuffie thing a bit, but I've decided against it and have an even better idea in mind, so . . . Leon will have to take care of things himself for awhile. Yeah. That's all I'm going to say about that. Yes, the last part was very fluffy. I think this was pretty fluffy, too. At the end, anyway. Leaves a nice warm tingling feeling. At least it does to me. Sweet enough to give you a toothache kind of thing. Yeah.
Beatrisu: Lucky thing you had that spork on hand or the review button might have gotten you. ::smile:: I'm sorry about your love for CloudxRiku. I really am. This whole ordeal started simply because I was frustrated with weeding through SoraxRiku stories, couldn't find any CloudxRiku stories, and wanted to be different. This story was actually originally going to be a SoraxRiku story in the end. Riku was going to like Sora, and then the whole KH1 thing was going to happen, Riku was going to meet Cloud (much like he did in this), they were going to date, and then break up some time . . . well . . . around here, actually. Riku was going to do KH2 by himself, and then get with Sora at the very end. I even started the bugger. Then I went to go join Thirty Kisses, claims were closed, found Kingdom100, and went, "Oh, I can do the SoraxRiku story for this." And even though there was no limit on claims, SoraxRiku was already taken twice, and I went, "Oh, I can't do that, too." I thought about the RikuxCloud sidepairing, and went, "Yeah, okay. I'll do that instead." And thus 100 Steps To Somewhere was born. And now I can't read either one with anyone else (as I used to be a CloudxLeon and a Namine/Riku shipper, too). ::sigh:: So, yes, I apologize. The fandom is sorrowfully lacking of fics. I'm so glad you like my shorts, too. I wanted to do oneshots so very badly just to tell a story that wasn't part of this one. Variety is the spice of life, after all, and though I adore this story to death, it is going to be 100 chapters long. That's a long time to exist in only one way for them to be together. Panjandrum is my absolute favorite so far, but Seven Days is a close second. Thanks for reading and letting me know you love this story. It really means a lot to me.
FrEaKyAoIFaN: I'm glad it's getting better as it goes on. I'd hate for it to become stale, especially when we're only about 40 percent of the way there. Scrooge McDuck? Oh, when I saw that ice cream prompt the first thing I thought of was that poor Scrooge McDuck through KH2 trying desperately to make that sea-salt ice cream and went, "That's when he's going to move into Hollow Bastion." Small little incorporations of the second game into the pre-KH2 world to set things up for the way they are when Sora gets back.
koyuki-san: Heh. I should have called the last chapter "Return of the Snark." Cloud got very moody in this chapter, methinks, though I look so forward to the torture he is going to endure in the next one. I like the dynamic between Cloud, Leon, and Riku. It's funny, actually, because until Leon found out about them in this story, it wasn't going to happen until much later. I had planned on Leon finding out during KH2, and Cloud wasn't going to be spending nearly as much time in Hollow Bastion, but it just kind of happened this way, which is great. I love when things happen without my consent, and then I have to go, "Oh, damn. Time to rearrange." It's how I've ended up with more chapters than intended for this part of the KH timeline. Cloud and Riku were never initially going to switch points of view, either, and look how that turned out. It's funny you say that you should say more, because I should honestly say less. I apologize for the length of this reply, for I am running high on caffeine (Cloud and I share similar views on the wonder that is coffee. Riku and I share the same views on nicotine. Speaking of nicotine . . . Excuse me while I indulge in my vices.)
The Glass Slipper: You are truly amazing, and yes, now Riku is the brat and not you. I'm still a brat, but hey . . . I forget, you know? I can't remember to finish my laundry . . . heh. Yeah, that's right. That needs to go in the dryer. Well . . . damn. Anyway . . . No, really, I totally adored them in that Christmas story with all the food nicknames. It was CloudxRiku on crack, and it's fantastic. Yeah, I try to keep them IC for the KH storyline. I will be playing FF7 very soon, though. Waiting for my memory card to come in the mail. The game tortures me as it sits by my Playstation completely unsaveable. I imagine I get so much praise for the Leon-Cloud-Riku dynamic because I adore writing it so much. I love Leon's character, so I love making him a good friend to them both. I now have a great idea for who to pair him up with so I can stop feeling bad about him being all alone and single. Partyboy outfit is the next chapter. I'm probably far more excited about writing it than I really should be.
Soul Writer of Dark Truth: Yes, long live CloudxRiku. It's funny how this story is a savior from the overused RikuxSora as this was supposed to be a RikuxSora story in the first place, and that it totally became a CloudxRiku just because when I went to join the challenge, I didn't want to claim something that was already so popular. So I guess it was my intention to not be overused and overdone. That and I wanted to write Riku's story because it is so tragically beautiful. Or at least it is in my own demented mind.
Quellesirel Peredhil: They are a fun couple, aren't they? Gives us all a break from, "Riku is a jackass and Sora is super sweet. What happens when Riku gets a crush on the cute little brunette boy and does lots of dicky things to win him over?" The plot thickens, indeed. I already know for sure how that Riku/Sora interaction is going to go when Sora finds out about Cloud. Picture this: 80. Heh. Yeah.
Chalice of Chelsea: I've been hearing Riku call Cloud 'Strife' for ages now. It was a great pleasure to finally share it with everyone. As for the sharks? I don't know where they came from. I often don't with these things. It's kind of like the townsfolk throwing gravel at Leon thing. Or Tifa and Vincent. Or the garland in the last chapter. Or even the snow in this chapter. Yeah. I don't know where these things come from. I just hope you all enjoy them as much as I do when they pop up on the computer screen and I go, "Oh, yes. That is so good."
ChibiFrubaGirl: OMFG! I thought I hadn't replied to you in a while . . . I'll forgive your sins because I'm the CloudxRiku goddess (arrogant, much?). You didn't have to wait long for the snow, huh? I think it was really freaking 'aw' in maybe even a sickening sort of way, but hey . . . it was perfect. I don't know if this qualifies as super-soon, but I hope you enjoyed by the time you read this. Hope you had a good time on vacation.
Mangled Euphoria (aka My Amusing MySpace Buddy): Yeah. Your bulletins are never dull. I see one and I go, "She wants someone to talk to her, and probably bored as hell." It's all good. I enjoy getting cursed at. I (obviously) have very foul language, and very poor taste, but I know these things so I think that makes it a little better. Swords, dark, and people getting kicked in the teeth? That should be coming up . . . oh, dear. I don't have my prompt table handy, but I know it's very soon (sooner than I'd really like considering I have to fill the better part of a year while Sora's sleeping in the pod). And I know it's going to last an extraordinarily long time (like ten or so chapters) to bridge into KH2. Which is also going to be insane considering the Xehanort/Ansem thingymajig. DiZ. Namine. Roxas. Twilight Town. Yeah. It's all coming.
So now that I've written you all two to three times as much as you left for me (hyper, much?) I'm going to try and end this thing before it ends up being half the post.
Next Chapter: I am super-excited about the next chapter of this story wherein Riku will get his new party-boy outfit. I've had this scene in my head before I signed up for the challenge. I had this scene in my head as of June 2006, really, which as you can see, I started writing this story at the end of November, so it's been a very long time coming. A little teaser? Yes?
Riku is getting taller. He needs new clothes. And damnit, Cloud, what's it like at a gay club, and when the hell will you take me to one?
But, Riku. I don't do clubs. I don't dance. And I sure as hell don't get drunk, let loose, and have a good time.
Heh. Heh heh heh. ::laughs manically::