I don't own characters that are already owe'nd... kay?
I hope you enjoy this chapter
Chapter 5
Rain drops"Sora!"
Sora halted in his steps, turning to the other walking up to him, "Mr. Leon?"
"Listen, I wanted to talk to you about Riku," He let a sigh out, running his hand quickly up and through his long brown locks, "You have to stop giving Riku your answers, he needs to learn." His hands fell down to his side, "He can't learn from the answers if he doesn't know the questions." His voice was agitated.
Sora frowned, taking his sight from the other's gray eyes.
"Sorry..."
"Don't be sorry, just stop letting him use you." His words came quick.
Sora shot his eyes to Leon's, "He's not using me!" He defended.
Leon frowned, "Whatever." He shifted his weight, bringing his arms across his chest once more.
Sora looked from the other to down the hall, seeing the doors that led outside.
"We use to live together.." Leon lowly stated.
"What?" Sora frowned.
"I know that you've been hanging around him lately." He stated flatly.
"Cloud...?" Sora fidgeted, putting his hands in his pockets.
"A lot has happened since then." He quickly glanced to the double doors, "You think you know someone so well, then you find out you know nothing at all about them." His eyes came back to Sora's. "One day they just wake up and you don't know who they are."
Sora's brows drew together, his eyes questioned further into Leon's.
"It doesn't take a whole lot to change a person. Be careful who you put your trust into."
"..." Sora began to say something, anything but nothing came out. His mouth open, in attempt to free any words that could escape him, however only breath came from his parted lips. Sora bowed his head, looking to the other's black boots.
Leon sighed, "I'll let you go, but don't let Riku cheat off you anymore. Next time I'll give you detention. Ok?"
Sora nodded, "Yes sir."
"See you tomorrow." With that the taller, older man walked from Sora.
What? Does he think that I don't know Riku? I know him, I've known him since I was little. I think I know almost everything about him by now! Sora began walking towards the double doors. Does he think that we've just met or something? He's using me? Give me a break, Riku's not a bully, and he would never use me!
He pushed passed the doors, taking his first steps outside.
I just don't know why he's avoiding me. He wasn't even pleased that I brought back his clothes. He almost seemed annoyed that I brought them, or was he annoyed to see Cloud?
The air smelled of rain, while the clouds that filled the sky threatened it. The sun hid behind the thick gray clouds, that casted a dark shadow over the ground. Sora slowly walked down the steps of the school, his face was dark with the ground around him.
Yuna.
Sora frowned, at the sudden remembrance. What was with her? What was with me? I should've known that she would've felt bad about her sister's death. That was careless, she was right.
"Tifa's not my sister..."
Is she not related to her? Tidus said sister... right? Maybe he meant friend or something.
"Sora?"
Sora halted, once more, and turned to greet the blonde haired man.
"Cloud!" A smile came to him.
"Hey, you walked right past me, what's up?" He sounded concerned.
Sora frowned, "I did?" Then came a light laugh, "Oh! I didn't even notice, sorry!"
Cloud grinned, "It's alright, you must've been lost in your thoughts."
A light shrug, "Yeah, guess so. What are you do'n here?"
Cloud
eyed the school, then back to Sora, "I'm pick'n you up..." a smirk curved Cloud's lips.
"Oh.." Sora felt his face flush.
The ride was quiet, just like the rest of the day. Sephiroth made no attempt taking the session any further then it went. Nor did he hardly say any words after the session. Instead he drove home in silence, his brows drawn together, with a heavy frown pulling at his face.
Vincent frowned along with the other. His thoughts were scattered and loud. His head was pounding, all he wanted to do was curl up in his bed and sleep.
My file... I've never seen it. I wonder what it says in it. What kind of thing's his written, I wonder what kind of things he finds in me. This whole psychology front, his profession is all one big lie. A mask, he's miserable, he should go see a shrink, not me. Maybe it was a mistake agreeing to see him. Though I didn't want to see anybody else. He's my guardian and my psychiatrist, would it have been better to see somebody else?
All those times I've sat in his office, talked endlessly about this and that. I never thought about why he was in that office as well. I never realized it, but it's so clear now. He fought so hard to save her, to keep her... he loved her.
Vincent sighed, he noted the quick glance from the older man.
The promise, to a dying woman, to look after us. To look after those who were left behind.
Stable... promise... she's alright... sleeping... dreaming... Aeris.
I saw her while she was sleeping, I didn't understand why I couldn't wake her, I tried. I rubbed at her arm, moving it, calling her name.
Aeris!
Sephiroth stood beside me.
She's dreaming, she can't hear you.
I looked at him, asking him if she was ok, her face was bruised and cut.
She's stable.
I remember having to wipe at my eyes my focus was blurry... tears.
They were turning a corner, they were going to fast, they hit some ice. The car slid and hit a pole. Your sister was driving, do you know where they were going?
I remember how slow she was breathing, how her chest barely moved with each breath she inhaled. Her chestnut hair draped over the pillow, it would usually be braided, held by a pink bow. That was her favorite color, pink. The hospital gown was a dull gray, her skin past pale. She looked as if she would never wake. But she did, a few days after I came to see her. During the few days Yuffie and I were staying at the orphanage. We didn't know until after Sephiroth adopted us, that she was awake.
She's alright, she asks about you, I've promised her both of you were safe and taken care of. I promised her I'd see to it. She'll get better.
Vincent watched the darkened streets pass, he let his eyes close, they were drawing near to their home.
Sephiroth promised Aeris that we would be alright, so she could concentrate on recovering. He brought us to see her, it was the last time. It was around two weeks after the accident, a week after she had waken from her coma. He told us she was going to be fine, that she was gaining more strength each day.
Vincent...
Her voice was light and fragile, though her eyes were strong, she said my name as if it was relief to her.
Vincent, you must know how much your sister loves you.
I remember looking to her strangely... Tifa loved me, yes I know.
Vincent...
She called again, reaching a hesitant hand to my face.
Don't run from this... Vincent... don't run...
Run?Vincent rubbed at his head, thinking about that time was causing discomfort there.
"Vincent?"
Vincent took his eyes from the window to Sephiroth's cobolt ones.
Sephiroth allowed a moment to pass before he spoke.
Vincent could see out of the corner of his eye, light coming from the window by the front door. They sat silent in front of the house.
Sephiroth drew in a deep breath, releasing it slowly, "Vincent, love isn't a crime, it's as opposite to bad then anything could be."
Vincent eyed him thoughtfully.
Love, you know what I was talking about, love is the thing I can't control.
"Love is a powerful thing, it could be wonderful, but it also could be painful." The silver haired man shot his eyes from Vincent to the house, "It's not a fairy tale, it's not easy."
"Love isn't a crime? It could never be bad, not a fairy tale," Vincent's voice was harsh and low, "What is it that your going on about? Forget all that, nothing is ever easy, why would I think love was? You can't prepare me for anything more then I have already! Do you think I don't know what it is to feel pain? I know this painful love. Just tell me already, that you loved her!" Vincent watched as the other frowned taking his sad eyes back to Vincent's.
"I loved her..." The confession came low and cracked, cutting through the air quickly and coldly.
"Have you seen Leon?" Cloud mused almost to himself.
"Mr... Leon..." Sora frowned, "I saw him just before I ran into you."
"Hm, then lets check the classroom." Cloud turned to another hallway.
"You use to live with him?" Sora questioned, eyeing the tile below them.
Cloud gave a nod, "Yeah that was a while back, we had our own place, just a small apartment. That was before... the..."
Sora frowned, "The accident?" He completed.
"Yeah, things became difficult after that. So I moved back home. Did he say anything to you?"
Sora looked from the floor to Cloud's blue concerned eyes, "No..."He just said I couldn't trust Riku.
"Does he still live there?"
"Yeah," Cloud shrugged, "he wants me to move back."
"Are you?" Sora walked into the classroom, taking a look around the empty room.
Cloud sat down at the desk, running his hands on the surface, "Eventually, but with my parents always out of town, I end up staying with Tidus."
"Oh.." Sora watched as the other looked over the class room.
"Besides it's not like he needs a roommate, he can afford it by himself. He just wants company." Cloud smirked, as he looked through the drawers of Leon's desk.
"I'm sure not any company would do, he probably misses you." Sora sat in his usually seat.
"Yeah I know, I miss living with him too." Cloud pulled from the desk a paper and pencil.
"How old are you?" Sora blurted, feeling embarrassed, "Oh, I was.. just... curious."
Cloud frowned, "Old."
Sora smiled, "Ah come on, ya can't be that old." He watched as the other write something on the paper.
"I'm twenty-six."
"Your not!" Sora rushed.
Cloud stopped from writing to look into Sora's eyes, he nodded slowly, "It's true, I'm twenty-six."
Sora felt his mouth drop, "No... way." A grin came, shutting his mouth.
Cloud shrugged, "Well.." he looked to the black watch on his wrist, "Shall we?"
"Not gonna wait for Leon?" Sora frowned.
Cloud smirked, "Naw, I've got you."
Sora felt a blush run across his face.
A loud mischievous laugh came from the closed white door in which Vincent began to glare venomously at.
What the hell is she doing in there? A mental image of Yuffie looking through Vincent's things made him grunt.
"Nyah!" A giggle came through the closed door.
Alright Yuffie that's enough.
Vincent wrapped his heated palm around the knob of the door, he began to turn it.
No! Don't! Just leave me alone!
Vincent froze, his eyes widened.That wasn't Yuffie.
No! Don't! You can't tell me this!
Vincent's heart began to race.
"You can't hide from me!" Yuffie's teasing rang through Vincent's head.
You can't hide the truth! It will come back... the true...
Vincent pressed foreword, swinging the door open.
"What's!..." He let his mouth close shut. All he saw was a slightly annoyed teenager playing a video game.
Yuffie eyed him expectingly, "Riku wanted to sleep so he let me bring the game in here."
Vincent peeked around the room, his eyes interrogated everything they laid on.
"Hey hey! I didn't break anything!" Yuffie quickly protested.
"No... it's not that.." Vincent began, "I thought I heard someone else in here." Sounded like...
"Whatever." Yuffie returned to the game.
Vincent frowned, he walked from his room, closing the door behind him.
You can't forget!
The voice rang through his ears.Vincent slowly made his way to Riku's room. He lightly tapped at the door, before letting himself in. Finding Riku on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
"Vincent... I've been thinking."
Vincent slowly nodded, as he closed and locked the door behind him.
Riku stretched his arms to behind his head, crossing them under the silver strands of hair.
"Maybe this whole thing was a mistake to began with. Everything you've told me, hasn't done anything but made me feel bad." His brows drew together, his eyes still glued to the ceiling, "To think that all I've done was use you, when you felt... love for me." A hesitant sigh, "It's just not right." His tone was low.
Vincent stood near the bed looking to the aquarium eyes that would pay his no mind.
"All those times we've held each other, kissed each other, it wasn't on the same level. You did it because you loved me, because you wanted to see me happy, to give me the comfort I needed." Riku paused briefly, licking his lips, "But I did it because I wanted it, not because I wanted to share my love with you. Although.." He smirked, "I did want to share with you, how good it felt to be kissed, to be held."
Vincent could feel a frown pulling at his face.
"I could go on without holding you or kissing you, I... don't love you, not like you love me. So when we're not doing that I don't feel awkward or weird... it's..."
"Meaningless." Vincent's word almost came above a whisper.
Riku sighed, taking his eyes from the ceiling to Vincent's, he held an almost pained expression. Riku lifted his body to sit at the edge of the bed, bringing his eyes to the floor.
"I didn't think it was when we were doing it. I thought it was comforting, that it was like helping us. But now, that you've grown these feelings towards me, I can only say I've felt the same to when we very first... started." Riku ran a hand through his hair, "Nothings come from this with me, it's still the same, nothings changed... but you."
Vincent his eyes began to water.
"It's not that it was meaningless, but it won't be the same from now on... we can't do this anymore." He looked from the floor to Vincent, his eyes were tired, he looked pale, "I've been thinking about a lot of things, I know what it is that you've been saying, about escaping through you..." A brief pause, "I didn't really see it as that, I didn't really think about it at all. I just did what felt good. Which was... using you... and avoiding... others. I'm sorry about what I said, about you using me too. It's far from the truth, you've given me so much, and I've only taken it selfishly." Riku took a deep breath, letting it go slowly, "Vincent, for a while I've been feeling tired, anxious, bored, then through that I've felt like I didn't have enough time in my life." Riku frowned, as he lowered his eyes, "Now, I know why, it's because I haven't been spending my time how I wanted to, how I really needed to. I thought all this attention we were giving each other was good, only to find out it did more harm then help anybody. I wish I could take it back. I wouldn't have done this with you, I would've payed more attention to what I really wanted. Which is what I've been avoiding." His voice, came harsh and low, he stood walking slowly towards Vincent, "You should've told me though." He eyed the other harshly, "You can't hide something like that, even through false situations. This whole thing between us... wasn't real."
Vincent let a tear spill from his eye, it fell slowly, stopping at his chin. He could feel his heart sink within his chest, his breath frozen in his throat.
Riku frowned as he watched the tear fall, "Vincent..." he walked past him, towards the door.
"Where... where.." Vincent turned, trying to spit out words his mind was screaming.
Riku turned to look at him, "I'm done escaping, I'm done avoiding, I'm done hiding behind you. I need to see Sora."
Vincent felt his eyes widen, as his heart stopped. His knees went weak as he fell down to the bed, his hands gripped the edge of the mattress as he watched the other walk from the room.
"It's pretty dark." Sora commented, a small displeased frown on his face.
Cloud gave him a raised brow, "Yeah," he looked to the sky, "but the coming rain has a lot to do with it being so dark."
Sora nodded, "Yeah.. It doesn't usually..."
"Sora!" Came a chirped voice from behind them.
Sora turned towards the school doors.
Kairi.
The red head quickly took to the stairs, meeting in front of him and Cloud. She gave Cloud a once over, a half smile spread on her face. She meet eyes with Sora, "Sora! I've been meaning to talk to you all day! I just was sooo buuuusy." She exhaled dramatically.
Sora raised a brow as he nervously smiled, "Uh.. hi Kairi.."
She giggled, as she pulled at her violet tank top.
"Um.. this is.." Sora pointed a finger at Cloud.
"Cloud, I know, he's..." She smiled, looking over to Cloud.
"Uh, Sora...?" Cloud cut in, "I think I'll go get the car.. I'll um... pull up when your done talk'n to her." His voice was low.
Sora quickly glanced to Cloud, "Oh... uh.."
Cloud gave a light smile, then headed towards the parking lot.
Kairi gave a small shrug, "Hey! You have to take me to Riku's, then you could walk me home. I don't plan to stay that late." She gave him a knowing smile, "I thought about it and I think your right, I out'a just talk to him."
Sora fidgeted, putting his hands in his pockets, he looked to the gray building behind her. The school looked almost haunting with the dark clouds surrounding it.
"Uh.. Sora?" Her voice rang with annoyance.
"What!" Sora snapped looking sharply at Kairi, "You don't need me to take you to Riku's house, you know where he lives."
"Well yeah, but his family freaks me out, I don't want to be there alone!" Kairi pouted her lips.
Sora felt his whole face frown, "What?"
"That freak brother of his, and his dad looks like a murderer or something." Kairi shrugged.
"Kairi!" Sora could feel his face pale.
Kairi gave him a blank stare, "What?"
"Vincent isn't a freak!" Sora withdrew his hands from his pockets, fisting them tightly, "And Sephiroth would never murder anybody! He's a doctor! He saves lives!" Sora protested.
Kairi frowned, "I thought he wasn't a doctor anymore, didn't he loose his job or something?" She crossed her bare arms across her chest.
"No..." Sora paused.Wait he... what was he... oh yea.
"He's a psychiatrist for..." He paused again, "Wait... why would you care, bad talking Riku's family like that!"
Kairi let out a frustrated, "hmpf."
Sora felt his expression turn to disgust, "Kairi... I'll see you later." He turned from her, and began walking towards the parking lot. His eyes stayed glued to the dark cement below him.I can't believe how she was talking! The things she was saying! What got into her?
"Sora!"
He heard the surprise in her voice from behind him. He almost turned to confront her once more, but he allowed his feet to pursue the steps they swiftly took.
"Sora!" He heard his name called past the roar of the engine, he looked to the black car in front of him.
Sora smiled in relief, "Cloud." Sora opened the black door, seating himself with a sigh. He quickly glanced to the school, she was gone.
Cloud geared the car in motion, driving hastily from the parking lot.
Sora let his head fall back to the seat, his eyes coming across the dark sky above them. Drops of rain hit rhythmically to his window. The sound was comforting to Sora, though the dark sky above him made him nervous, made him... anxious.
I
let the sand fall from the cracks of my fingers.
It
was warm, not like it should be, it should be cold, like the rain
that will fall soon.
It doesn't usually... get this dark so early.
Riku... you're different, your not like your friends, I can see it, the difference. But it is them you'll choose... over me. It is him you'll turn your love to.
Sora.He's such a child Riku, he's not like you... He's not like me. Would you want anybody but me?
Vincent eyed the foam that came threatening close to his black boots. The ocean roared in tune with the thunder above him.
If I didn't know already that you loved him, I would've been hurt more by you walking out like that.
I'm done hiding behind you. I need to see Sora.
I didn't think you would take it that way, I wasn't attacking you... I was just trying to help you. I want you to be... happy.
Vincent felt his eyes sting. He heard the sky above him break apart, then felt the cold drops strike him. He curled his legs to his chest, crossing his arms on them, then burrowing his head between them.
So you'll go find Sora, tell him everything, you'll tell him of your true feelings... your desires. You'll even tell him about us. You'll tell him how you pretended it was him instead of me you've been with. I can live with that, I've known of this rejection for a while. I've accepted this fate... this destiny. We've made things worse for each other. Do you think Sora can understand the things we've done. Though you've been true, Riku, saving yourself for him. Do you think he can accept the things we've done? Have you damned yourself as I have? It wouldn't make a difference if he'll have you, you'll always be mine. You'll always be my love, my life, you'll even be my death.
Vincent felt a pair of warm arms embrace his wet, cold body. They traced along his shoulders to the front of his arms, the presence of the body to his back. Hot tears began to stream down his face, muffled sobs came from between his arms."...Tifa."
Sora repositioned his weight, he felt Cloud do the same. They sat together, closely on Sora's bed. Neither of them said anything, though their eyes met a few times, almost as if they wanted to say something.
Sora frowned, he wanted Cloud to talk to him, like he did before, about everything and anything. He wanted the other to touch him, to feel him. Sora absently glanced to the others lips, a deep blush rushed to his cheeks. He shot his sight from Cloud to the floor.
"Sora..." Cloud softly said his name.
Sora looked from the floor to Cloud, he could feel his face loosing the blush. His eyes widened, his heart raced within his chest.
Cloud softened his eyes, his hand reaching up to Sora's face. He let his fingers caress the other's face."You can trust me."
Sora's breath was caught in his throat, a broken moan escaped through his lips. He watched the other smile at his noise, blue orbs moved to the source of the sound. Sora fidgeted under the older mans stare, he licked his lips. Cloud responded by moistening his own, with his pale pink tongue.
"I want to kiss you.." Cloud confessed.
Sora gave a slow nod, as the older man leaned in, closing the distance between them. He tilted his head, as he felt the other's warm breath on his lips. Closing his eyes he moved forward, coming in contact with Clouds mouth. Cloud began to massage at his lips, bringing his tongue out to lick at them.
"Sora!"
Sora jumped as if the contact with Cloud burned him. He looked wide eyed, towards the door, his heart was racing, threatening to jump from his chest. Riku stood there wide eyed, his mouth slightly open."Riku...!" Sora stood, his hands came to his chest, pressing on his pounding heart. Sora shot a nervous glance towards Cloud, who stood beside him. He noted the frown and frustrated brows on the blondes face.
"Sora..." Riku frowned, he looked to Cloud, his brows drew together in obvious displeasement. His hands clenched together, "Cloud..." He took a few steps back, and ran from the room.
"Riku!" Sora called to him, he glanced quickly at Cloud, who continued to stare at the empty door frame. Sora followed after the silver hair boy. He ran out the front door, and into the falling rain. He saw the other running a few feet ahead of him. He tried with all he could to make his legs carry him faster towards the taller boy.
"Riku!" He called again, though he knew the other would ignore him just as before.
He saw the other rush into the street then back to the side walk, causing Sora to frown in confusion. Then he saw, to late, what it was Riku was avoiding on the sidewalk. Shards of broken glass. Sora's shoes fell on top of the shards, making him slide, and loose his balance. He fell forward with a loud cry, his body falling hard on the wet cement. He could feel the broken glass travel into is body, cutting and scrapping at his flesh. Another cry of pain escaped his clenched teeth. He lifted his head from the cement, as he heard fast feet from ahead close in on him. He felt relief to see Riku was no longer running from him, but running to him.
"Sora?" Riku crouched down, his eyes were red.
Sora frowned, feeling embarrassed, and worried about Riku. He tried to push his body from the wet cement, though he only fell to the puddle below him.
Riku walked from in front of him, to stand his legs on each side of Sora's waist. Crouching down, he wrapped his arms around Sora's body, lifting Sora with ease. Sora blushed as he felt his back come to Riku's chest. Riku held Sora, even well after he was standing, he only tightened his grip as Sora tried to move away.
"There's... there's more glass..." Riku's words came slow and broken. Riku walked them from the shards of glass, to the grass that lay beside the sidewalk. He let Sora sit slowly, going down to the grass to the pace Riku's arms allowed him. Sora felt the other sit to the back of him, and saw Riku's panted legs move to each side of his own.
"Sora..." Riku started but allowed his voice to drown in the tapping of the rain. He traced along Sora's arm, stopping at the hand. He turned over the hand, exposing the wounded palm.
"Riku...?" Sora questioned, looking over his shoulder to see the other concentrating on his palm. He felt Riku dig two fingers in his hand, removing a small shard. Sora winced, "Ehhg!" letting a cry of pain out.
"Sorry.." Riku offered as he continued to pull and pluck broken glass from Sora.
"Why.. did you.. run?" Sora winced as Riku forced another clear piece from his palm.
"I came... to talk." Riku half stated, his words came just above the striking rain. He took Sora's other hand, examining it.
Sora frowned, "I.. with Cloud.. uh."
Riku removed the few shards from Sora's hand then stood, bringing Sora with him. "Go home... take care of your cuts." Riku lowly commanded.
Sora shook his head, "What did you want to talk about?"
"Nothing.." Riku took a few steps, making his way from the grass to the sidewalk.
Sora followed, "Nothing?" His tone was high, and his word came quick.
Riku turned, facing Sora, his eyes looked tired, "Sora..."
Sora felt himself getting excited, getting anxious, "Riku! What's going on, why have you been so distant lately! What did I do?" Sora's barrage of questions stumbled out, his tone annoyed and nervous, "What happened? Things weren't all messed up last week, what's going on!" Sora huffed in some air and released it with a grunt.
Riku
frowned, "Messed up?" His tone was low and calm, making
Sora nervous.
"Wasn't
it Kairi
you were drool'n over Friday? Since when did you and Cloud
become so close?"
"I'm tired of always being the one who doesn't know what's going on! Everywhere I go it's always something new, or something somebody's hiding!"
"Kairi doesn't like me," Riku snapped, "and that's not even what I care about! When did you even get a thing for Cloud?"
"I don't know! I... guess since you've been avoiding me!" Sora stated thickly, "It's just that we've been hanging out lately, and... he's just.." Sora took his eyes from Riku's, "I like him.."
"You like him?" Riku repeated, "You don't even know him!"
"I know him!" Sora argued.
"Yeah... right." Riku wiped a silver strand from his face.
Sora frowned, "Cloud's nice, and he talks to me, not at me. He would tell me everything, he wouldn't lie to me. He just wants to be my friend, even if he's so much older..." Sora wiped at his wet cheek, "I think he likes me too, he.."
"Ugh, Sora!" Riku cut in, "Just stop!" The silver haired boy's face became whitely visible, as a flash of lightening cracked above their heads.
"I can trust him." Sora stated lowly, thunder roared through their ears.
"Why? Just cause you think he'll tell you everything?" Riku took a step closer to Sora, "How do you know he's not just telling you anything?"
"Ugh! I don't, your right!" Sora shot back at Riku, "But why do you care anyway? Why should it matter who I like?"
Riku bowed his head, "Sora... your so... blind." His words were just barely audible past the wet drops falling fast from the sky. He lifted his sight to the sky, then back to Sora, "I love you."
"...What?" Sora repositioned his feet, "...what?" He repeated.
"I came to tell you that..." Riku trailed to a stop.
Sora's eyes darted from Riku's to the puddle he was standing in, "...Riku..?"
"Sora, you've meant so much to me... for such a long time." Riku let a soft sigh come from him, "but it ended up turning out this way... that it was... Cloud." Riku clenched his hands to fists, "Perfect... it's just perfect."
"Perfect?" Sora wiped at his face.
"I could deal with you having a thing for Kairi." Riku frowned, "But you had to find... Cloud..."
Sora felt himself becoming more impatient with each word Riku took, "Riku... What are you talking about!"
"Yes, Riku, indulge us please." Came a voice from behind Sora.
Sora turned to see Cloud, equally drenched in the rain that struck them. He stood calm, with both hands to his side, his eyes were narrowed on Riku.
"Maybe you should explain the connection between us." Cloud crossed his arms across his chest, making his white shirt stretch against his skin.
Sora frowned as one word made itself apparent in his head. He looked from Cloud to the wet floor, his brows drew together in thought. He looked to the cement, watching as the rain drops almost moved the ground, he let his ears catch the thunder that roared above him. Then in the mist of everything he heard a soft patting sound, almost a chime, his eyes fell to the source of the sound. He stared endlessly to the broken shards of glass that surrounded him, he lifted his hands to examine his palms. His eyes fell on the wounds, the red fine lines that decorated his hand. He found his eyes to Riku's with an urge to question further. Then he let the word escape his lips, "accident..."
"Tell him Riku..." Cloud's word's came sounding like a threat.
"Cloud..." Riku began, taking his eyes and locking them on Sora's."Sora..." He paused, "It's..." His brows drew together, a heavy frown, "It's perfect..." His voice barely audible, "Just perfect that it would end this way..." his words came venomously, "Serves us right... Isn't that so, Cloud?" His aquarium eyes shot to Cloud's blue ones.
"In the end you get what you deserve... we all do." Riku turned from them, running off in the rain.
"Riku!" Sora called after him again, "Ri... Riku!" His cry was broken, and confused.You still never explained to me... You never told me...
"Sora." Clouds voice came to him quickly.
"UHHHH!" Sora reached his hands to his face wiping at it with a swift frustrated motion."Cloud! What's going on! Tell me, everything!"
Cloud eyed Sora briefly, "Come on, let's get out of the rain."
Sora stepped lightly towards Cloud, a shiver running it's way up his back, leaving goose bumps on his arms. He was starting to feel how cold it was getting.
"Your right, Sora.." The statement came from Cloud as if he was unsure about something."The accident is what ties us, Riku and I."
Sora frowned, "He knew Tifa?"
Cloud bowed his head looking to his feet, "...Aeris."
Sora frowned, "Aeris?"
"She was everything to me..." He paused to sigh, "She meant so much to me, but... I didn't..."
"You... loved... Aeris?" Sora frowned, he looked from the blonde to the sidewalk. His eyes widened, a horrified expression settled on his face, as Sora recalled earlier that day.
"I just thought you would know... If Tifa ever loved Cloud back..."
"What?"
"Maybe Tifa told you..."
"Why would.. Tifa.. how could you... First your questions... then... you don't even know.. Tifa's not my sister..."
Yuna's sister, Aeris.Cloud frowned, "I didn't mention Aeris, I wish I could forget."
"Forget...?" Sora frowned, "What happened?"
Cloud allowed several steps before he spoke again, "They ran over some ice, going to fast, they slid and hit the pole." Cloud took a shaky breath.
"Rinoa died instantly, Tifa and Aeris were taken to the hospital..."
"The hospital." Sora repeated, his eyes searched over the ground.. Sephiroth.
"Sephiroth was their surgeon, Tifa died shortly after he started working on her. Aeris was strong though she wouldn't let him kill her off easily."
"Kill her? Cloud!" Sora's voice rose to protest.
"Sora!" Cloud cut off Sora, the tone and pitch made Sora uneasy.
"Aeris fought death, fought him trying to interfere." Cloud's voice was low and harsh, his steps became quicker.
"I was always by her side... and he was always there, with me. Afraid of what she would say about him to me. It doesn't matter though..." Cloud was clenching his hand then unclenching it, his fingers twirled around as if they were playing with something.
"I knew, even without her having to tell me, the way she would look at me, her eyes told me everything..." A brief pause, "He was slowly killing her, that's why he was always standing in there with me, looking over my shoulder, eyeing her threateningly."
Sora frowned, not being able to believe what he was hearing, he looked at Cloud, who's gaze looked ahead. The blonde's brows furrowed, he looked like he was in complete concentration.
"I couldn't do anything, but I told her..." Cloud frowned, "He stood behind me as always, but I didn't care." Cloud wiped at his rain drenched face, "I took her hands into mine, looked deeply into her blue eyes, I remember softly smiling. Everything was perfect, as if time stopped, we were the only ones that were in that room. It was just Aeris and I, both of us endlessly searching into each others eyes, I felt my words fall from my lips, even before I felt my mouth move..." Cloud sighed heavily, "I love you. For a tiny moment I felt a warmth wrap itself all over my body, her eyes deepened, there was light all around us. I heard her laughing, I heard her crying, I even heard all the times she was upset, all those memories came flashing through my head. Then as quickly as the moment came, it was sucked away from me as I felt a heavy hand fall to my shoulder. Her hands fell from mine, as I jumped to his cold touch. My eyes.." Cloud wiped once more at his face, "My eyes filled with this horrible stinging pain, my vision became blurry, I couldn't keep my focus on her eyes. Sephiroth pulled at me lightly, he was trying to move me from her side, but I wasn't going to let him. I pushed him away from me. Then I heard this loud noise ringing through my ears, it made me jump, it came so suddenly." Another pause, "It was her... heart... the machine.. she was gone."
"Cloud..." Sora began, "Sephiroth... he was trying to save her, he's a doctor that's what he does."
"No!" Cloud's protest came quick, "He killed her, he broke our connection! She was content and living in my eyes, then he took me from her, he faltered my hold on her!" Cloud quickly rubbed at his face.
"Cloud..." Sora frowned.
"Then he had the nerve to say that I needed to let go, that it was time to let go." His words came venomously, "He can't hide the truth, he can't deny what happened, I know what happened! It will come back, the true..."
"Cloud... why do you blame Sephiroth, he was her doctor." Sora's tone was low, they walked to his door.
"She was so beautiful, she was so pure, everything about her was like a dream. She had such an aura about her that would fill you with love and warmth every time you were around her." He became silent as he shut the front door, he followed Sora to his room.
"Riku.. he never mentioned any of this... neither did Tidus." Sora frowned, as he stood in the middle of his room, allowing his wet drops to fall from him and soak the carpet.
"Tidus isn't involved, he knows, but he's not involved.." Cloud frowned, wiping at his forehead, "Riku, wouldn't know, he'd be just like Sephiroth."
"What?" Sora frowned, confusion settled on his face.
Cloud softened his features, he walked towards Sora, wrapped his arms around the smaller boy, "That's why I feel so connected to you." Cloud rubbed soothingly on the others back, "You have that same aura as Aeris, your not selfish. Your pure."
Sora pushed himself from Cloud eyeing him curiously, "Pure?"
Cloud pulled Sora back into an embrace, "Yes, you don't have that tainted personality, you don't carry any demons around with you."
"Pure..." Sora repeated in the strong embrace of Cloud. His body shivered from the wet clothes, and the cold body that held him.
Vincent walked slowly through the hall, water dripped from his body leaving a trail behind him. He opened the bathroom, closing it behind him as he walked in. He pulled at his wet clothes, turning the shower on. Steam floated towards him, surrounding his body, and fogging the mirrors. He stepped to the tile, slid the door shut and stood directly under the striking water. His hair cloaked his back, a few strands to his face. He turned the heat higher, making the drops that fell hotter, it burned for only a moment, then his body adjusted to the temperature. He lowered his head looking to the drain that he stood above, watching specks of sand float towards the black holes.
I've told myself so many times, this day would come, and came it did. The day you finally would stop running and hiding. You'll talk to Sora, but will you talk to your father? Will you come to know the pain he has, from love. This pain I feel, it's the same as Sephiroth's... watching somebody you love so much, go away. Even though both of us never had what we desired, it still hurts to see them go... away.
Vincent turned as he heard the sliding door open, he wiped at his wet eyes."Riku.."
The silver haired boy stood, a small frown at his face, his eyes red and puffed.
Vincent frowned, "Riku..." He called out the others name again.
Riku shook his head, silencing Vincent. He stepped slowly, hesitantly into the shower, sliding the door shut behind him. He curled into the embrace Vincent held out for him.
Though this is what I want, for you to come to me and I'll give you comfort. This is what we've done for so long. I don't know what hurts more, thinking that you'll always some how be mine, or allowing myself to be yours.
This will end, you can't hide the truth. This isn't real.
It will come back... the true...
You can never forget yourself, though you'll try to in me. You can't ever hide your feelings behind mine, they'll break free soon enough. This isn't real. You'll go on, in pain, maybe you'll pretend to forget, you'll build yourself a mask, just like your father. You'll hide behind smiles, you'll paint yourself yellow when all you feel is grey. With each new lie, with everyday you pretend is ok, you dig your own grave. Then what will we have left? Nothing but a silhouette, that once was you, filled with pain."I don't want you to live this way, I'll take your sins if I could, I'd make it all go away."
Riku tightened his grip around me.
"Riku.." I said his name softly, "You can't live behind all these lies, don't find yourself in the same light as me. I want you to shine."
I felt his body shake, heard his breaths shorten, he was crying.
"If your not going to hide, if your not going to run... Then you have to stay away from me."Cause I'll let you run to me, cause I will shelter you from the truth.
He shook his head, burrowing deeper within my neck.
"No matter what you do, where you go, you can't ever hide from the truth. You can never run from your memories, your feelings, your desires." I took my hands from him, letting them fall to my side, "You will never be free from the truth." I took his arms from around my waist pushing them away from me."We all can't be weak."
I can't take you back, I can't keep doing this. I have to wake up from this dream, you don't... love me.
"If your going to get what you desire you have to let some things go." I could feel my eyes water. I felt the warm embrace against my body, I knew I wasn't alone. I walked from the shower, leaving him there. I wrapped a towel around myself, and walked from the bathroom. I stood with my back against the door, my heart was racing, pounding hard against my chest. I heard every word leave my mouth, but it only felt they returned to myself.
I walked the few steps to Riku's room, I closed and lock the door behind me. It's a habbit. I finished drying myself, then dressed myself in my night attire. I took a glance around his room, everything was the exact same yet opposite of my room. The house was quiet, but occasionally filled with thunder from the storm outside. I walked towards the door, pulling at my long sleeve shirt, I unlocked it quickly and opened it slowly. I walked comfortably through the dark hallway, passing the bathroom, feeling the warm steam come from the opened door. I walked heavily past my room, the door was closed, I could here my comfort calling me from between the frame and door. I found myself in the front room, looking at the black leather couch that faced the television a few feet away. Large long windows, with black shades, decorated the wall behind the couch. I sat comfortably on the cold embrace of the cushion, I let my body lean to the side, resting on a large silk pillow. I closed my eyes, a light sigh came from my mouth, I heard footsteps approaching me, however I did not open my eyes to the intruder. The cushions moved slightly as the other sat next to me, I could feel his heat generating towards me. I remained silent, and still, as if to fool them of my unawareness."Vincent?"
I felt my body quiver with the deep voice that cooed my name. I always
enjoyed hearing my name come from his mouth. I continued to pay him no
mind.
"Have you seen Riku?" His tone came light, and curious, but behind the general question I knew he was frustrated and hurt.
I felt the cushions move, heard him lean closer, then I felt him place his strong warm hand on my shoulder.
"Vincent?" He sounded concerned, but tired.
I let my brows frown with my lips as I was getting ready to answer him.
He squeezed my shoulder gently.
I opened my eyes, turning my head to look at him through the dark room, "He's not here."
You can't tell me this! Just leave me alone!
I know it's hard, but you have to let go.
NO! Don't! Your so heartless, you let her die, you've killed her!
I've done my best, she put up a good fight much like Tifa..
NO! I loved her and you let her die!
Did you tell her?
Yes, you saw me, I told her! You let her die!
Did you tell her when she was alive?
She was alive... in my eyes...
TBC
Thank you to my reviewers. Please continue to give me feedback.
Thank you,
Clowyamma