YES! FINALLY! CHAPTER 18.2, UP!
*cackles like madman*
I hate writing long chapters. My muse PMSs on me every other hour, I stress out about how I'm going to finish it, blah blah blah.
Plus, I kept you guys waiting for so long that I decided to make Ch. 18 Pt. 2 even longer than I originally intended in exchange for your guys' patience. Fourteen pages on Word 2007, whew…
So…happy reading! And please don't kill me for what happens.
Warning: Spoiler alert for a BBS character's appearance! You have been warned.
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN ANYTHING MENTIONED IN THIS STORY.
Just this story. Enjoy!
Xxx XXX xxX
The five towers of ADBS were arranged in a giant pentagon. Five paved paths led from each tower to a massive center stone at the grounds' dead center.
And now that very stone—apparently actually the roof of the school's ballroom—was majestically rising out of the ground like a fast-forwarded clip of the construction of a Great Pyramid.
"How the heck did that thing work?" Naminé asked, still gawking at the now fully ascended ballroom.
"It's lifted by five solid steel wedges compressing together and forcing the ballroom up a hidden passage, sort of like an elevator," Kairi explained. When she got strange looks from everybody else, she said, "What? What's wrong with reading up on ADBS's history?"
"Nothing," Sora replied, striding towards the ballroom. "C'mon, guys."
The ballroom had to be at least hundred feet to a side; the outside resembled a Greek temple, all gleaming marble and buffed granite with steps tipping the outer edges and elegant Ionic columns supporting the roof tail. The door in front of the group was a colossus of polished wood and gleaming steel.
The inside was even more spectacular—five arcing buttresses supported the soaring domed ceiling, the very top of which was seemingly opened to the night sky. After a moment Naminé realized that that window was actually a massive television screen, likely linked to cameras on the roof.
Thirty-five spotlights were arranged so that every square inch of the richly carpeted floor was bathed with illumination, and the golden oak dance floor was accessed with seven layers of steps that resembled the titular locale from Dante's Inferno. Dozens of tables already packed high with refreshments lined the area around.
"Are we even supposed to be in here yet?" Jennifer asked as she gazed at the awe-inspiring interior of the ballroom.
"We're allowed inside the moment the ballroom has fully risen," Xion answered with a slight smile.
"Amazing," Ryo murmured. "We never saw this on the website."
Cries of awe and shock could be heard from outside as the rest of Arthur Durand Boarding School's seven hundred students and their parents filed out of the dorm tower.
"I have to go," Kairi said quickly, turning to exit. "Seifer should be here any moment."
Sora reached out to grab the redhead's wrist, but she tore her arm out of his grasp.
"Kairi, wait—"
"I have to go!"
With that, Kairi ran, disappearing through the door. Sora made to follow but he was forced to stop when a flood of people rushed into the ballroom.
"Come on, Sora," Roxas muttered, clapping a comforting hand on the brunette's shoulder. "You'll see her later. Let's go…"
"I guess I will," Sora said sadly. He took Naminé's arm and Roxas took Xion's. "All right, let's dance."
"After we listen to Headmaster Xehanort's incredibly long and boring speech, we can," Xion corrected.
"The way you said that, one would think you're eager to," Roxas said dryly.
Xion shuddered in mock horror. "Never!"
Naminé realized what the two were trying to do—distract Sora from Kairi. Judging by the amused expression on the brunette boy's face, Xion and Roxas were succeeding.
"I wonder if Axel and Larxene are coming together," Naminé mused with a slight smile.
Roxas snorted. "That'll be the day," he muttered, shaking his spiky blond head. "Axel might do the craziest stuff in parkour but he's an utter coward when it comes to Larxene."
"What's parkour?" Ventus asked, tugging on the hem of Naminé's dress.
"Is it something dangerous?" Ryo demanded, his nostrils flaring.
"No, Mr. Miyamoto," Roxas sighed. "Parkour's just getting from Point A to Point B as quickly and directly as possible. It's fun and safe and there's nothing dangerous about it, as long as you use proper safety precautions."
"Which we do," Naminé added.
Ryo looked disappointed. "Oh. Okay."
"Naminé, you said 'we'," Jennifer noted. "Do you do parkour, too?"
The blonde nodded. "Roxas taught me," she said. "And Dad, don't you dare overreact to that."
Naminé's father's expression resembled that of a frolicking child who was ordered to do his homework.
Xxx XXX xxX
"What was the purpose of this speech again?" Naminé said. She and Xion were the only ones in the group not already half or fully asleep on their feet.
"So the Headmaster could hear himself talk," Xion answered, rubbing her eyes. "The guy's practically got a hobby of boring people to death."
Sora suddenly snorted and jumped. "I swear I didn't take the last cookie!" he cried. "Xion framed me, Mom!"
The brunette girl smacked her brother upside the head. "Wake up, numbnuts," she snarled. "And don't mention Mom again."
Before Sora could respond, Headmaster Xehanort's scratchy, croaky, and exceptionally boring droning came to a close.
"We thank you all for coming here. Let the dance begin!"
Roxas cracked an eye open. "Is it done?" he murmured.
"Yes it is," Naminé said with a small smile. "Wake up, sleepy-head."
The traceur leaned forward and pecked his girlfriend on the lips before taking Xion's arm. Naminé took a moment to revel in the lingering sensation of her boyfriend's lips on her own before following suit and wrapping her arm around Sora's.
"Where's your father?" the blonde asked.
"He'll be waiting," Xion said cryptically. The brunette motioned for Ryo and Jennifer to follow.
The four kids (Jennifer, Ryo, and Ventus decided to stay) wove through the currents and thickets of human bodies, heading for a spot near a door opposite the one they had come through.
As they slid through a crowd of people, Naminé caught a flash of blood-red hair and blonde antennae—Axel, with Larxene on his arm.
The blonde poked Roxas. "You were wrong," she chuckled. "Axel is brave enough to ask Larxene out."
The traceur whirled around, pulling Xion to a dead stop (and nearly horizontal). "What!" he said. "Where?"
"Roxas, we can see them later," Xion hissed, jerking him forward. "Come on!"
"I'd listen to her, man," Sora advised, dragging the unmoving Naminé along like the blonde weighed nothing. "Our dad's not somebody to keep waiting."
"Oh all right," Roxas sighed, falling into step with Xion.
Naminé felt something heavy and cold settle in the pit of her stomach. In truth she had no desire to meet Xion and Sora's father; she had no idea if she'd offend him, or not impress him, or whatever. She was afraid she'd disappoint.
That very thought frightened her out of her wits. What would Xion think of her? What would Sora think of her? What would Roxas—
"Nervous?" the traceur whispered.
"Yeah," Naminé mumbled. She hung her head. Where was all her bravado from before?
"So am I," Roxas admitted. Then he smiled. "But just go to your happy place. Maybe that'll help."
It was no help, considering that stress made for a good happiness-blocker and that she didn't really have a happy place anywhere near here. Naminé decided to simply ignore her jitters and focus on what would happen after this.
She'd dance with Sora first, quickly, and then Roxas would ask her to dance…when a slow song was playing…yeah…
The artist got so deep into her reassuring fantasies that she jumped when Sora jabbed her arm.
"That's him," the brunette said, pointing.
Naminé followed the trajectory of the finger to a group of four burly men dressed in black business suits. After a second she realized that those men were bodyguards.
"Just who is your father, anyways?" she hissed. "I mean, bodyguards?"
"I guarantee your jaw is going to drop when you see him," Sora replied in a glum voice. "Be sure not to—that wouldn't make a good impression."
"Okay," she frowned, wondering just who could elicit such a reaction.
When she did see Xion and Sora's father, her jaw didn't drop after all, but mostly because fear had disabled all of her muscles.
"Your dad," she squeaked. "Is Rufus Shinra?"
"Yep."
Rufus Shinra.
The legendary man was the president of the Shinra Electric Power Company, an influential energy corporation that provided electricity to two continents. His personal fortune numbered in the hundreds of billions and his power rivaled that of small countries. The SEPC even had a licensed private military known as SOLDIER, which was rumored to contain super-soldiers known as First Classes. Naminé actually knew that last for a fact.
'Nuff said.
Even Roxas looked shaken by the sight of the renowned businessman. "Frickin' A," the traceur muttered to Xion. "No wonder you never told me and Axel what your real name was!"
Shinra had apparently already spotted his children and their dates, because he motioned for Xion and Sora to come forward.
"Time to meet our old man," Sora murmured. "Stay frosty, Naminé, Roxas. Let us do the talking, okay?"
"Got it," Roxas said coolly. Naminé wished she had his cool; she felt a drop of cold sweat slide down her back.
"Sora!" Shinra called. "Xion!"
One of the suit-clad bodyguards stepped forward and adjusted a small dial on his sunglasses.
"They're clean," he rumbled, before respectfully moving back.
The four stepped forward.
"Father," the two siblings said in unison. Sora and Roxas bowed while Naminé and Xion curtsied.
"Who are these two?" Shinra asked in an imperious voice. His accent had a slight Oxford lilt.
"Roxas Takahashi and Naminé Miyamoto, sir," Xion answered, indicating who was who with two sweeps of her arm.
"The son of Lieutenant General Ansem Takahashi of the Marine Corps and the daughter of a former SOLDIER First-class?" Shinra said, nodding. "Impressive, my children."
"We are most grateful, Father," Sora said.
"As you should be," Shinra snorted. Then the eminent businessman waved his arm. "You are dismissed."
Naminé started to leave, eager to flee from the rather intimidating miasma of Shinra, but Sora's arm held her fast. The brunette only loosened his grip when Shinra had left with his entourage of bodyguards to a presumably even larger group outside.
When the powerful energy magnate had exited, they all exhaled in relief, except for Naminé. She was still holding her breath, fearful that Shinra would come back in.
"We survived, Naminé," Sora said, shaking the blonde a little. "The coast is clear, you can breathe now…"
The artist glared weakly at him and made to retort, but a shout cut her off.
"Oi, Roxas, Naminé!" Axel hollered, waving at them. Several people next to him flinched from the volume of the yell.
"Why aren't you two partners?" Larxene demanded from the redhead's side.
"Long story," Roxas answered. Then he dragged Xion, Naminé, and Sora by extension towards the two parkourists.
"You look amazing, Larxene," Xion said.
"Thanks, Xion," the blonde traceuse grinned. She was dressed to kill in a strapless, above the knee, figure-hugging fire-red dress that did wonders for her figure but was questionably appropriate for a formal ball. "You and Naminé look amazing, yourselves."
"Thank you," Naminé replied a little enviously. Once again she was in the shadow of another girl and for some reason that didn't sit well with her.
"Naminé especially," Axel chuckled, pretending to ogle the artist. "Roxas is probably checking you out every chance he gets."
The artist felt heat rush all the way up to her forehead.
"Shut up," Roxas snarled, punching Axel in the arm, but the blond traceur was blushing, too. The funny thing was that he was—or had been—staring at Naminé.
Hungrily.
"Mentally undressing your girlfriend, Roxas?" Zexion smirked as he walked up. The brunette traceur was clad in a dark green business suit, but he apparently had no date. "I thought you were above that!"
Roxas and Naminé hung their heads in an attempt to conceal their ever-reddening faces even as those around them, barring Zexion, howled with laughter.
"Can we change the subject?" Naminé mumbled. She shivered slightly at the mental image of Roxas slowly slipping her dress off her shoulders—
Note to self: kill Zexion later.
"Sure," Xion sang with a mischievous smile. "So, Roxas, is Naminé still a virgin? Or have you two already succumbed to your base, primal desires?"
And once again the two blondes turned beet-red as their friends burst into laughter.
"I've a few questions for you perverts," Roxas growled through grinding teeth. "First, Zexion, where's your date?"
Zexion tilted his head towards a group of girls. "She's talking to her friends right now," he said. "Her name's Paine—she's the brunette in the black gown."
"Okay, so you did work up the courage to ask somebody out," Roxas said. "Second, Axel, how in hell did you manage to ask Larxene out without humiliating yourself? Because last I checked, your tongue never works right with her—well, if you catch my drift…"
It was Axel and Larxene's turn to blush and Naminé and Roxas's turns to laugh at the innuendo.
Sora shifted uncomfortably. "So, um, Roxas," the brunette boy began. "Would you like to dance with Naminé? I mean, my father's not here to watch us, and she's your girlfriend…"
"Of course I would," Roxas replied with a small smile. "Now go find Kairi."
"Aye, sir!"
The funny part wasn't when Sora turned light pink at the mention of his former girlfriend. No, it was when the guy snapped a salute and rushed off.
Roxas rolled his eyes before bowing to Naminé. "May I have this dance?" the traceur inquired, his head cocked, a small smile hovering at his lips, and his stunning lapis eyes twinkling.
"But of course," Naminé replied with a smile of her own, extending a bare arm to Roxas. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Larxene leading Axel onto the now rapidly filling dance floor and Zexion bowing to a raven-haired girl. A familiar-looking brown-haired boy was asking Xion for a dance, but was rejected. Ouch.
And then Roxas swept her away.
The first song was at a medium pace—lively and loud, and yet far slower than expected. Dozens of couples twirled on the polished wood dance floor, bursts of monochrome and color from a bird's eye view. Naminé and Roxas were in between the center of the area and its outermost edge.
"Why did we have to learn to dance if Mr. Shinra left before he could see it?" Naminé complained. Her right hand was clasping Roxas's and her left one was around the blond's neck.
"That's a successful businessman for you," the traceur muttered as he and Naminé gently revolved in the currents of humanity flooding the dance floor. His right arm was wrapped around the girl's waist. "They always think that everybody's supposed to attend to their every wish, and that includes wasting our time and energy."
"Well, yeah, but they're used to having their orders followed in the workplace," Naminé pointed out. "That can bleed over into their daily lives."
"True," he admitted. "And what I said probably only applies to the ultra rich—or at the very least Mr. Shinra."
She couldn't argue that point. "True."
"See?" Roxas smirked. Then his tone turned sardonic. "Gee, I wonder what he likes to be called—Lord Shinra? Shinra, King of Electricity? His Majesty Ultimate Supreme President Shinra, Super Businessman Extraordinaire?"
"That last one was so over-the-top," Naminé giggled. "Imagine if he actually does use that one."
"I don't," an amused voice from behind them said. "But I kind of like it anyways."
Both blondes froze in horror. Naminé made a terrified mewling noise.
And then Shinra's voice, or a good imitation thereof, abruptly changed pitch and tenor to a familiar merry tone. "Gotcha."
"AXEL!"
Xxx XXX xxX
The dance was a lot livelier than one would expect of a stereotypically snooty formal ball. Hundreds of people were talking, laughing, moving all over the place. The spotlights left no corner of the ballroom unlit. The smells of the food and drinks lining every table in sight wafted through the air.
Naminé felt her stomach clench and growl when the aroma of fresh cookies drifted into her nose, and she sheepishly looked at Roxas.
"Can we go get some food?" she asked, embarrassed.
The traceur chuckled. "Sure," he replied, leading her to a laden table.
Sandwiches, steaks, chicken, salads, breads, pastas, sweetmeats of every kind—all were loaded on the clearly already packed tables. Stacks of hundreds of paper plates and plastic utensils were set on either side of the food.
"What're you going to choose?" Roxas asked, picking up a plate and a fork.
She scanned the tables, noting at least five different foods she liked. "Can't decide."
Roxas glanced at a clock mounted above one of the doors. "Well, we've got two hours for you to pick out what you want."
"I was asking you for help."
"How am I supposed to help when I don't know what your favorite food is?"
"Well, what're yours?"
He grinned evilly. "Can't decide."
"Argh!" she huffed, turning away from him and crossing her arms.
He snickered and wrapped his arms around her. "That's the PMS-ing little Naminé I fell for."
"This isn't the kind, sweet little Roxas I fell for," she replied, but she was smiling anyways.
"Little?" he grumbled, burying his face in her hair.
She sighed and closed her eyes. The night, the dance, the swirling colors and swirling lights were getting to her; she was getting drowsy. The sensation of Roxas nuzzling her ear wasn't helping.
"Excuse me, but may I have this dance?"
Naminé's eyes shot open even as Roxas's arms tightened around her waist.
"What?" she said a bit more harshly than she'd intended.
And then her vision cleared and she saw him. It was the brunette boy who had restrained her during the lunch brawl. Now that she had only him to pay attention to, she could see that he had spiky hair, like Sora's, and unnatural golden eyes.
"You!" she snapped. "Why did you come here? And who are you, anyways?"
"I would tell you my name," the boy said coolly. "But your boyfriend here would not believe me if I did."
At the word 'boyfriend', Roxas stepped protectively in front of Naminé.
"Yeah, I'm her boyfriend," the traceur said icily. "What are you doing, asking my girlfriend for a dance?"
"That is none of your concern, Mr. Takahashi," the boy responded in a dry, iron-hard voice. It was familiar, but Naminé couldn't quite place it. "I need to talk to Miss Miyamoto and you are in the way."
Roxas stepped forward, anger written all over his features, but then he froze in place like a statue. Literally.
"What did you to him?" Naminé shouted, glaring at the boy. "Turn him back!"
"I will, as soon as you listen to me," the boy said. "My name is Vanitas Durand. I am the guardian spirit of this school."
Before she could react to that tidbit, Vanitas held up a hand. "Do not scorn me; we do not have the time. Come."
"What do you—?"
There was a flash of light and Naminé found herself standing…exactly where she'd been a minute ago, on the dance floor. But it looked different, somehow.
Oh that's right, it was completely empty.
Vanitas's arm snaked around hers and guided her towards a door. Naminé couldn't tell which one, exactly; the ballroom's five walls all looked the same to her.
"What are we doing, exactly?" she muttered as they stepped outside. The crowd was in awe over the just-risen ballroom.
"We are searching for Mr. Sora Shinra and Miss Kairi Heartilly, sixty-one minutes prior," he replied, pulling her in a different direction. "Also, Mr. Seifer Almasy."
Now that answer was unexpected.
"Why are you interfering with their relationship?" Naminé demanded as she sidestepped a smooching couple. "Doesn't a guardian spirit have better things to do than that?"
He turned his head to study her with one of his golden irises.
"My atonement knows no task that is beneath me," Vanitas said coolly. "That includes 'interfering' with a teeny-bopper-class, or whatever the children of this generation refer to it as, romance."
"Atonement—?" But before she could complete the question, she was interrupted.
Again.
"Ah, Kairi!" Seifer called, striding over to her. He was dressed in an immaculate navy blue business suit, although the loud yellow-and-orange checkered tie completely ruined the effect. Amusingly, Beanie-head was still wearing his namesake.
Naminé raised an eyebrow. "I'm not—" she began.
Seifer walked straight through her, like she was a hologram.
"Now that was unexpected," Naminé said in a strangled voice, glancing at Vanitas. "How did that—?"
"I've temporarily converted you to ectoplasm, Miss Miyamoto." The response was so deadpan, so serious, that she had to believe it, whatever it meant. "This will render you undetectable and intangible to all except for Shade Hunters."
"Okay…"
"Now let us follow him."
Vanitas pulled her after Seifer, who was heading presumably to Kairi.
The redhead, a dazzling figure in her red dress, was surrounded by a rather large group of (mostly male) admirers. Then she spotted Seifer and her face instantly changed from flustered (from compliments) and laughing to pinched and fearful.
"What's wrong with her?" Naminé hissed. "And where's Sora?"
"You should already know the answer to both of your queries," Vanitas responded. "We must hurry, Miss Miyamoto—this was the wrong time to come to."
And before Naminé could respond (she was getting cut off a lot, lately), there was another flash of light and she found herself standing—
Right in front of herself.
"Oh my GOD—" Naminé jumped back a full foot, phasing through a doppelganger of Xion on a past Roxas's arm. "Holy shit—"
"That reaction is not uncommon," Vanitas remarked, grabbing her arm again and pulling her off. "Now, let us proceed."
They hurried through a throng of people, once again moving towards the door. This time, though, Vanitas abruptly changed direction towards the center of the room.
"Where are we going?" she asked. Vanitas's legs were a blur of motion and Naminé had to jog to keep up or be dragged along the floor.
"To Miss Heartilly and Mr. Almasy, of course," Vanitas said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
And it was. Naminé felt rather moronic for having asked the question in the first place.
The first thing she noticed was that Seifer was leading Kairi in a tango (incompetently). The second thing she noticed was that Sora, with an unhappy expression on his face, was watching the two. Kairi didn't look too pleased about her situation, either. The third thing she noticed was that Fuu was dancing with Rai.
"Oh, hell…" Naminé took a step back.
"Yes, Miss Fuujin survived your defeat of her," Vanitas said.
Naminé raised an eyebrow. "How'd you know we had a fight?"
"Miss Miyamoto, consider this. Did you have any knowledge of martial arts prior to fighting Miss Fuujin?"
Ice blue eyes went wide. She'd heard that ghosts were capable of it, but seeing as she'd never believed in ghosts in the first place…
Well, now she did, but that was irrelevant.
"You possessed me!" Naminé cried, pointing an accusing finger at him. Accusing of what, she didn't know and probably had no right to do, but still.
"Correct," Vanitas replied. A small smirk ghosted across his features—the first display of emotion she'd seen out of the boy.
She shuddered involuntarily. She owed her health to Vanitas, she knew, but she couldn't help but feel just a bit violated.
"I apologize for doing so," Vanitas said, shrugging. "But I had no choice at the time. In return I have uploaded combat subroutines within your memory."
"Uploaded what in my memory?" Then she shivered again as something cold caressed her scalp.
"Never mind," he said, releasing her. "Now be quiet and observe."
Naminé turned to face the scene before just in time to lock eyes with Kairi. The blonde jumped, startled, but then she remembered that she was invisible.
She was still getting used to the fact that this was real, that this was happening, and that there really was a ghost standing right next to her.
"So, Kai," Seifer said in a stillborn attempt at a seductive voice. "What do you think about going to my room for some…R&R?"
To Naminé's horror, Kairi actually seemed to give in, nodding dully. What the hell had Seifer done to her?
"What do I do?" she hissed.
"Show her a gesture of confidence," Vanitas replied.
A gesture of confidence. Hmmm…
The blonde stepped behind Seifer and gave Kairi a wink and a little wave. The redhead couldn't possibly have seen her (Vanitas had stated he'd rendered Naminé invisible), but her violet eyes widened slightly and she gasped.
"Na—" Kairi snapped her mouth shut just in time and closed her eyes.
And then she pulled her hands out of Seifer's grasp and shoved him away.
"First of all, my name is Kairi, not Kai," the redhead said coldly, opening her eyes. "Second of all, I will no longer be your personal fuck toy. If you want me as your girlfriend, then treat me with some respect. Bitch."
Seifer's mouth fell open and his face contorted with rage, but Kairi simply turned and strode away from the now clearly irate Beanie-head.
"'Personal fuck toy'?" Naminé repeated in a strangled voice, her ears turning pink. She was horrified. Disgusted. "What?"
Well, at the very least that explained why Kairi had been pained by the simple act of walking…
Naminé couldn't get the image out of her head.
"You would not believe some of the things I have seen during my tenure as a guardian spirit," Vanitas said coolly. "But never mind that now—you must follow Miss Heartilly. Guard her."
And then he vanished and Naminé felt air rush around her skin.
"Great," she muttered, scanning the crowd of a flash of red hair or violet eyes. "Couldn't he have helped me a little?"
"I enjoy watching people struggle," a voice said into her ear. "Call it an idiosyncrasy of mine to not make it too easy."
The blonde huffed in frustration, but set off in the general direction Kairi had left. Who knew? Maybe she'd get lucky and spot the redhead.
Xxx XXX xxX
Five minutes later she still hadn't found Kairi.
"Where is she?" Naminé mumbled, as the blonde trudged through the crowd. "Stupid Vanitas…"
A flash of motion—red hair, red cloth—
"There!"
Naminé gathered up the hem of her dress and sprinted towards the flash of Kairi she'd seen, ignoring the gasps and murmurs as she rushed past.
She blushed when she heard the first catcall.
And the second.
And the third.
At which point she slowed down to a fast walk.
Upon hearing the fourth, Naminé hung her head to try and conceal her steadily reddening face. She made a mental note never to run in an evening gown ever again.
EVER.
And she mentally groaned as she once again caught sight of Kairi, who was running hand in hand with Sora. To make things worse, Seifer was making a beeline for the two.
"Crap—" Naminé picked up her pace, jogging slightly, but it still wasn't enough. "Come on, come on, come on…!"
She burst out of the crowd just in time to see Sora and Kairi disappear through a door; Seifer was no longer in sight. She grinned and began to head after them—
Someone grabbed her arm and reeled her back in. Naminé yelped as she stumbled, trying to keep her balance, and failed miserably—and smacked her face into someone else's.
But there was no pain, only the sensation of lips against hers, a hand curled around her cheek, and an arm wrapped around her shoulders.
It was almost exactly like how Roxas kissed her—except her favorite traceur had lapis eyes, not cobalt.
Naminé broke free and slapped the clearly flustered boy as hard as she could.
"What the hell!" she shouted, blushing furiously.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry—" The brown-haired boy's complexion had become bright red as well and he began to back away. "I—I don't know what—"
The blonde about-faced and rushed for the door Sora and Kairi had left through, but stopped when she heard a shout from a familiar voice.
"Naminé!"
The artist whirled around to see Roxas running after her. The traceur looked extremely angry—unsurprising, considering what Naminé had just done.
She was torn—on the one hand, she could just continue the chase and ignore Roxas—risking a fight with her boyfriend—and on the other, she could try to explain herself to him as fast as she could, but risk Seifer getting to Kairi before her.
Roxas slowed as he neared her. Well, that choice was made.
"Naminé, what were you doing?" He sounded hurt. Confused. A bit angry.
How could she blame him?
"Roxas, I'm sorry—it was an accident." Naminé regretted saying that the moment it came out of her mouth.
"An accident? I just saw my girlfriend kiss another guy! What am I supposed to think when I see that?" Now Roxas looked distraught. He took another step forward. "Where did I go wrong?"
It felt like somebody was sticking daggers into her heart when he said that.
"You didn't," Naminé said. "Roxas, that guy just pulled me in! I wasn't expecting it!"
"You still looked like you enjoyed it." His eyes, those wonderful, formerly lively lapis orbs, narrowed.
"I thought it was you!"
And as if the universe was taunting her, Naminé spotted Seifer heading for the door Sora and Kairi had left through. "Oh, crap…"
"Excuse me?"
Naminé gritted her teeth. "Look, Roxas, I—I'll explain later, okay?" she said in a pleading tone, glancing from his eyes to the door and back again. "I need to do something right now!"
"You have to do what?" Roxas demanded, stepping closer. She took a step back.
Seifer disappeared through the door.
"I'll explain later, okay?" she said desperately, before sprinting away.
"Naminé, wait—"
"I have to go!"
But as she burst through the door, the eerie similarity of what she'd said to Roxas to what Kairi had said to Sora wasn't lost on Naminé.
As was the upset expression on Roxas's handsome face.
Xxx XXX xxX
She cursed Vanitas with every step. ADBS was huge; there was no telling where Sora and Kairi might be, and beyond that there was another one prowling the massive lawn.
Seifer.
There was no telling what the bastard might do to Kairi. Naminé would expect any normal person to act according to school rules, but Seifer acted like he was above the law. If he somehow was, then she wasn't sure how she'd protect Kairi.
Why, why, why had she not asked Roxas for help? It wasn't like her boyfriend would've declined, right?
"No use crying over spilt milk, I guess," she mumbled as she jogged along the lawn (her dress was a lost cause and she'd stopped worrying about the damage to it), nervously looking around her. "Man, but the outside is creepy at night…"
She'd already checked the area around the ballroom and around the towers, as obvious as they were. Then she'd scanned the expansive, but flat lawns.
There was really only one logical place left where the two might be.
The blonde reached the edge of the calisthenics field and took a moment to catch her breath, before looking over the edge.
"There you are…"
Naminé spotted a flash of glittering scarlet in the wan moonlight—Kairi's hair, fanning out as Sora spun her in a tango. The blonde moved as fast as she could down the steps, but carefully as well. Her tripping wouldn't help anyone.
This was a lucky break, and that in itself was very, very bad. Finding Sora and Kairi this quickly, when Seifer had had a head start no less, was very fluky, and Naminé wouldn't have much luck left to deal with the inevitable argument with Roxas.
Sora saw her first.
"Naminé!" he cried in shock, instinctively hugging Kairi close to him. "What're you—"
"Seifer's on the warpath," the artist said tersely. "He's coming for Kairi, you guys have to run!"
"How did you know we were here?" Kairi asked, shrugging Sora's arm off her shoulder. The redhead's eyes narrowed in clear suspicion.
"I saw you leave," Naminé lied. "And apparently, so did Seifer."
A quick glance around confirmed that the bastard hadn't found them, yet.
And then she saw a familiar blue beanie poking over the top edge of the bleachers.
"Uh-oh," Naminé muttered, backing up, herding Sora behind her, who herded Kairi behind him. "Stay back…"
Seifer took his time swaggering down the stairs; he thought that there was no escape for them, that the almighty Beanie-head had them trapped.
Key-word: thought.
"So, Porcupine," Almasy drawled, leaning an arm on a handrail. "Messing with my girl, are you?"
"When he gets closer, run to the other end of the field and the other staircase," Naminé whispered in what she hoped was a reassuring voice. "Okay?"
Kairi nodded. Sora just shivered in fear.
"Alright then," Naminé said, taking a deep, calming breath for what she was about to do.
"Oh, you player you," Seifer continued, grinning widely. "Two hot chicks? Oh, my…"
"Look who's talking!" Naminé shouted, clenching her fists. "Roxas tossed you around like you were me!"
She knew that was lame but it was the best she could come up with at the moment.
"Oh, so the new girl has a mouth," Almasy smirked. "But…"
And Naminé squeaked in fear and took a hasty step back as Seifer swung over the rail in what was quite clearly a parkour technique and landed in a crouch. There went her one advantage.
"Roxas isn't here to save you this time around." Seifer leisurely got up and began walking towards the three.
"Run," Naminé ordered.
But Sora and Kairi were frozen in horror, clutching each other.
"What're you doing, run!" she hissed, glancing at the two.
And miraculously they did, bolting for the far end of the field.
Unfortunately that glance took her eyes off Seifer for a moment, and when she looked back he was less than ten feet from her and sprinting.
Naminé dove out of the way just in time, rolling into a crouch. She got up and slowly backed away as Seifer stopped and turned to face her.
"You're really annoying, you know that, Miyamoto?" Almasy sighed, scraping at the grass with his shoe.
And then he rushed her again, but this time Naminé evaded without tumbling and ran for the bleachers, backing into the raised concrete assembly.
Fuck. She was trapped.
"Also very stupid," Seifer chuckled, pointing at the stairs. "Hello? Stairs? Or are you just a dumb blonde?"
She shrank back into the bleachers, ice blue eyes widening in terror. She tried to scream. Found her throat was dry with terror. Found her muscles refused to budge.
"I think I'm gonna have some fun with you first," he smirked, closing until he was towering over her. He was over a head above her, maybe even taller than Roxas.
Why was she being fearful? Naminé gathered her courage and took a breath.
"Go away, Seifer," she said shakily.
He just chuckled menacingly. "Right. Like I'd leave a pretty girl like you out here all alone…"
She shuddered at the implications of that, but she stood straight nevertheless.
"I said, go away—"
His hand shot out and clamped around her delicate throat. Naminé gagged and clutched at her neck even as she was lifted a foot off the ground.
Seifer brought his nose to within kissing distance of hers. "I don't think so," he breathed, and then she let out a muffled cry as his fist rose up to her face—
A foot flashed out, the oppressive force crushing Naminé's throat abruptly disappeared, and Almasy staggered back, clutching at the new bruise on his jaw.
Roxas Takahashi jumped down from the bleacher balcony like a guardian angel and protectively stepped in front of Naminé, his cold eyes blazing with homicidal lapis fire.
"Get the fuck away from my girlfriend, Beanie," he snarled, clenching his fists. "Unless you want a fate worse than getting raped up the ass…"
Almasy took one look at the enraged traceur's murderous expression and promptly fled, tripping over his own feet in his frantic desire to get away alive.
Once the other guy was gone, Roxas turned around to look at Naminé, relief and worry but most of all fear etching his handsome features.
"Naminé," he whispered, taking a step forward—
She flew into his arms and buried her face in his chest, crying and shuddering uncontrollably. He was crying, too, even as he hugged her to him.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry—" The rest of Naminé's apology dissolved into sobbing and hiccups.
Roxas cupped her cheek with a gentle hand and tilted her head up so that she could look up into his eyes.
"It's okay, Naminé," he murmured, smiling reassuringly through his own tears. "It's okay, I'm here now, you're safe…"
"But—but—but—why'd y-you s-s-save m-me?" she choked, still shaking. "I—I k-kissed a-another g-g-g—"
She couldn't get it out, no matter how hard she tried.
"Shhh…" Roxas smoothed back her bangs and gently kissed her on the lips; when he disengaged she wasn't shivering quite so badly…
Just a minute ago, she'd been reassuring Sora and Kairi. Naminé found the comforting humor of the irony, clutched onto it, refused to let go lest she lose it too.
He must've misinterpreted her slight smile as recovery, because he let go. It felt as if liquid nitrogen was clouding up around Naminé when he did so.
"That guy came up to me and apologized to me. He explained everything—he said that you did it without your consent," Roxas explained, sheepishly scratching his dark blond spikes. "I'm sorry for misunderstanding, Naminé…"
She didn't fucking care about an apology, she just wanted to feel his sturdy, indomitable arms around her again. Roxas had nothing to be sorry about anyways.
Apparently he (again) misinterpreted her silence as anger, because he winced.
"I know you're angry at me, Naminé," he muttered. "And I know I hurt you and I know I might never make up for it…"
She wanted to shout in his ear as loudly was biologically possible and then some that he'd done nothing wrong, but the goddamned fear was settling in again and crushing down on her throat.
"I'm sorry," he sobbed, tearing up. He choked. "I'm—I'm so sorry…"
And then he walked away.
"Come back," she said in a strangled voice, sinking to the grass. "Roxas, come back, please…"
But he didn't.
Xxx XXX xxX
DON'T KILL ME.
I really hope I got the emotion right in this scene (also the rest of the chapter). *sweat-drops* And if I did and you react badly, please don't kill me. If you do I won't be able to fix this, right? *laughs nervously*
The cumulative credits, Arcs 1-2:
Kairi Granger
Komuro
Smileydomino
Riceball793
Puppylove98162
Bittersweet Apathy
Midnight-heart
-thatROXASlover-
DeadlyxMoogle
Meandor711
xXanimefoolXx
Alphakoka
Wrath lover
Runix56
Maxeyn
YourName23
Truth-Unspoken
Goddess of Discord and Heaven
King of hope
XShiori-chanX
One Sky-One Dream-One Destiny
CielDenali
XLeftOnTheLineX
Poohbearlover95
Thank you. Thank you all.
All of you are equally special to me, because you took the time to comment on and rate my chapters. It's because of your faith that my writing's improved (if only slightly). It's because of your encouragement that I now wouldn't think of deleting "Jump". It's because of your willingness to read some crazy boy's fanfic that I'm willing to write.
You all may have heard this speech before, but like all the other authors, it's straight from my heart and soul.
Thank you all, again.
~SB~out~
PS: Those of you whose stories I'm reading, UPDATE. You know who you are.