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What am I? A girl labelled with orange eyes.
An Object? For endless punishment?
A friend? To whom exactly?
No personality? So let me fake one…
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Chapter 9
K.S.C. and the shopping spree.
"Am I fake?"
"Do you trust me, Sora?"
Those were the words that her mouth wanted to verse the night before when Sora and herself parted ways- but she was unable too. All what was going threw her mind at that moment was 'I need to get home, I can't bare to be another minute here' Chiyo had been agoraphobic (fear of crowds) most of her life. Going to that island was already a large step so she already fell out of her comfort zone but it was Riku's punch that conformed her immediate regret. 'Maybe I don't belong there…'
It was the next day, the light peered over the horizon. Sora was already awake as he pondered for a moment, simply laying there in his bed. "What am I going to do today?" Usually he'd race for the door, link up with Riku and Kairi then head for the island. 'Riku's planning on making a raft. He's been so excited all week'
But now he had other loyalties. Chiyo.
Even if she didn't see it, Sora did see the possibility of a promising friendship and he just felt so comfortable talking to her, too.
That was the 1st time they had spoke? Really? It didn't feel awkward or forced at all.
'She's always been in my class, behind me. And this is the 1st time I've noticed her. I've always had my back to her. Well, today I'll…I'll go see her!'
With new enthusiasm he leapt out of his bed and got his cleaning gear for a quick shower. Today would be the day where his destiny would change forever.
--
"So what 'was' Riku's problem?" Selphie asked whilst walking along the dusty path, arms linked with Kairi. "I missed all the action." She moaned.
"It was really uncomfortable Selphie." Kairi uttered "He was so relentless, he didn't even stop to let her breath. All because he wanted to make a point." She momentarily stopped for breath, sighed, then continued. "He said he wanted to leave this island but with Chiyo around he thought she'd influence Sora to stay. Maybe it was a scare tactic?" It then "I think. We should go see Chiyo. Let's ask her to go shopping with us!" Well that was her original plan to begin with but Selphie never openly discussed it with Kairi.
"Yeah she must be pretty upset. Riku's just a big meanie."
'The old Riku wouldn't of done that. I wonder what's on his mind?' "He's changed."
"What is there a Riku impostor floating about?"
"Please, I can barely deal with one! Hehe. Let's go."
With that the two females both skipped merrily toward the house marked on they're map.
--
Meanwhile.
Riku had just finished his morning shower, his silvers locks sticking too his wet body like Velcro. He took a towel for his head and scrubbed gently before wrapping it around his waist. As he made his way into his bedroom a sinister aura emulated around him, for some reason the room felt colder.
"Riku." Moaned a dark voice.
"You do not yet know, what lies beyond the door." It croaked from a distance.
Alarmed, Riku immediate got into a defensive position, scanning every corner of his room for the impostor. "Who are you, what are you doing in my house!?"
"But you have already opened yourself to the darkness. Good."
"Whoever you are, you have 5 seconds to get out."
Before a small breeze echoed within the window cracks, and with that the voice disappeared.
"Man I must be loosing it."
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As usual the teen was moping around her house doing nothing in particular, if there was laundry to be done, she'd do it, if there a programme to watch, then she'd flick threw the T.V guide. As much as she despised being a couch potato when outside looked gorgeous, she felt it was a necessary skill to have when feeling sorry for yourself.
Suddenly there was a knock at the door, she grimaced at the thought of who it could be 'Cherry knockers?…Riku?
"Hiya Chiyo!"
"I-it's you!"
---
Two girls were stood at her door, both with there hands raised up in a wave. One with brunette hair that curled at the end, another with red hair and eyes crystal blue.
"Hiya, we came to see how you where?" Selphie said, Chiyo's eyes were wide open at this time.
"Y-you did?" She said in disbelief 'that's so nice of them. But I could've sworn Kairi..' "Selphie, Kairi? Would you… like to come in for a drink?" She asked innocently.
"No time, no time, the shops close early today and this'll be our last chance to buy some dresses, just grab some clothes, cash and meet us outside, kay?" And with that, the high spirited Selphie pushed Kairi along to wait outside the gates with her.
"Ah..ah-lrighty then?" 'They want…to hang out with me?' Confused by this request but overly flattered, the lonely heroine decided to accept their request. It only took her a few moments to clean herself up, do her hair, and fashion herself in her usual green dungaree outfit.
Stepping outside the girl heaved in a deep sigh and joined the girl group on their shopping spree, this was indeed a first.
Once they had arrived in the market place, the girls moseyed around for the perfect set of jewellery to combine with their summertime outfits. Selphie found a skipping rope, Kairi a black collar and Chiyo… Chiyo was trying her best by being more enthusiastic then she actually was, nothing appealed to her taste, or it was too small for her or she was afraid of spending munny on something extravagant. Even though she was extremely uncomfortable with shopping, being beside Kairi and Selphie was actually kind of fun.
"That dress, I want it, want it, want it!" Cried Selphie like a banshee. Kairi and Chiyo both shared a terrifying glance then proceeded into the shop Selphie had screamed at earlier. The girls couldn't help but stare and gawk at all of the expensive items dotted about the place, prom dresses, cocktail dresses and other variations of female clothing were displayed on racks along the shop floor.
Excitedly they each leapt for a rack, "Hmm, I quite like this one." smiled an enthusiastic Kairi and took it into the changing rooms, Selphie followed with several.
"How about this Selphie, Chiyo?" Kairi spun out of the changing room, dress flowing as she spun. The pensive island dweller grumbled, nervous that Kairi's attention was on her now. "I…I don't think that one suits you." She said pensively. Scared of what the red heads reply would be, the tanned girl began to figit.
"It's makes you look fat" cried Selhpie from one of the rooms who had peered out to watch the two debate.
"That's what you said about all the dresses!" Kairi whaled, hopping back into the changing room for another session of 'What dress shall I wear.' Chiyo giggled at Kairi's and Selphie's antics, it was kind of cute.
"You want something that will extenuate your frame, you seem to be a pear shape so you need something that will hoike up those boobs to make them look bigger." Called out the shop keeper from afar but the girls weren't really listening.
After about 10 minutes of zipping up tight corsets and revealing parts of the flesh a 14 year old shouldn't be aloud to see, the girls slowly stepped out with Chiyo's mouth opened in awe. They both looked perfect, their curves perfectly framed inside the dresses. Kairi's body was slender with a tight hugging dress that showed her waist and thin stomach, whilst Selphie chose a shorter style cocktail dress with frills at the bottom.
"You both.. Look so beautiful! Look in the mirror" She smiled.
"Chiyo, why don't you pick something?"
The girl stepped back, stammering slighty. "aw, tch. Naw, It's alright, I've had fun just being here. Besides I--"
Selphie interjected Chiyo's ramblings, picking up the tag that swung out of Kairis back. "uh oh girl, you better check the price tag."
"1200 munny! I can't afford it." Kairi squealed, all hope lost for the dress which could probably sail 1000 ships.
Chiyo dived deep into her never-ending pockets, pulling out her pouch with her savings inside. She held it there for a moment, thinking it over, then with a sigh of compassion she walked up to Kairi, giving her her savings.
"Kairi, here, I'd like you to have it."
"Oh Chiyo I cant-"
Chiyo shook her head softly and smiled. "Don't be silly. It's yours.. I want you to look stunning for Sora."
Kairi's lips curved into the biggest smile she could muster and gave the teen a very tender hug "Thank you"
Surprised by this affection, Chiyo's hands remained limp at the sides. Awkwardly she patted Kairi on her shoulder and peeled her off delicately. "If…If he doesn't fall head first for you, then nothing will."
Bags in hand, the girls retreated toward their separate homes, on the way Kairi and Chiyo managed to make small talk, with the awkwardness from before slowly dissolving, the two felt somewhat close now.
"So, I never got the part in the end." Kairi groaned, eyes lowering to the floor.
Chiyo rubbed her soft tanned skin, feeling the awkward levels rise again. "I'm sorry to hear that. I couldn't help but feel it was my fault for letting Sora stay behind, he should've been with you." She uttered, the aura of disappointment washing over her.
Kairi shook her head. "It's alright, the drama group are all snotty anyway." She paused and stopped by the grassland that lead to the shore, there Chiyo spun to face her. "We're going to the island. Wanna come?" She said happily.
"Actually umm. Since Half term starts tomorrow I was planning on going to my Dad's to help him pack."
'Pack?' She questioned. Before she could voice an opinion, Chiyo left waving gingerly at Kairi before departing toward her house.
Chiyo arrived back home, the smell of cigarettes and tobacco filled the lounge area. "I'm home!" Called Chiyo confidently, shutting the door behind her.
"A-hoy Chiyo! How is dumpling?"
"Good."
"how did the shopping go?"
"It was alright." She said as she collapsed on the sofa.
"Oh, some boy called Sora asked for you. A friend of yours?"
"He did!?" Her attention was officially caught. Her body rose from her seat like Dracula from a coffin "Why? When? what for? For me?
"C'mon Dad, you know I don't have any friends." She squawked. "The only words I can say to people are dot-dot-dot." She joked at her own misfortune, a trait she was often good at.
The professor frowned, pulling his baby girl close to him, preparing a bear hug. "Of course you do! I'm you're friend, yu."
"dumpling-sugar-puff-poo legs-" The professor lunged at his daughter, tickling the poor child into submission. "Suueee!" He snorted.
"Dad dad dad dad dad, DAD! Hahah okay dad, dad, stop seriously this isn't f-funny ahahha!" The girl squirmed, writhing about on the sofa like a turtle trying to roll off of it's shell.
He stopped momentarily so that he could switch on his serious face, nuzzling his beard on Chiyo's neck before retreating.
"You know I don't mind not going to the resort this year, we always go. If you want to hang around with Sora instead?" He said.
"..It's alright Dad, I'd only just get in the way" She added
With that said, dad and daughter watched the midnight telly, Chiyo's eyes slowly giving way as the show progressed. Curled up in his lap now, the girl hummed silently indicating she was asleep.. After the show had ended, Vlad took his exhausted baby to her bed, tucked her in with a kiss on the forehead.
"Tomorrow then. I'll pick you up after school, we leave for the resort." He uttered gently, closing the door
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A/N Chapter 9 up!
That felt really rushed. I know. But I'll have time to add later bits in whenever I feel like it, I just want things to feel concrete before I buff out the edges.
Anywho, here are things you should look out for in order to understand things.
+ Riku's transformation - He's slowly turning toward the dark side, but this could be the birth of it, his acceptance follows when he says those famous lines 'I'm not afraid of the darkness' Meaning he's accepts Ansem's words and plunges balls deep into it.
+ The plot - Notices how it keeps within the boundaries of Kingdom Hearts, aye?
+ Riku's Jealousy - We've seen this in the kingdom hearts game, he gets jealous of Sora new friends and ultimately feels replaced.
+ I'm trying to balance out everyone's perceptions of the newcomer, chiyo without her taken center lead of all things bright an beautiful. It's not like they can just ignore her either, that would totally be OOC, YA KNOW lol.