Chapter 19: A Vacation?

Rated: M

Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts!

Sora POV

I've been listening to the news a lot lately. Apparently people from my case have been showing up on the news. This is so weird. Riku couldn't be doing this because he's too far away from here. I don't get it. Overall, I'm still hurt by his decision. Money over me? We can get money if we work hard. I just don't get it. I contacted Lea and told him about what happened. After that, Lea has been coming by to comfort me and hang out with my friends. My mother started to believe he was my new boyfriend. What makes her think that other than his visit? We're not dating at all. I don't know what I'd do if I did that. But I also have good news. That day Riku left again, that envelope I got contained my acceptance into the college of my choice. I'm working a part time job while attending school and my mother is really happy. I guess this was for the better, I'm doing much better and I'm already almost a year in with my studies. It's great to be back to normal again. Just like the time before I even met Riku. I've felt a bit off, but maybe I need to find someone new too. Or I could wait until I finish school to avoid any distractions.

"Sora, you have a visitor!" My mother called out while I was thinking to myself. I was procrastinating anyway as I studied. There's so much to do to the point where I'm actually booked.

"Send them up!" I yelled falling back onto the bed with my papers scattered everywhere as I listened to the footsteps come up the stairs. I heard a knock at the door before Lea popped his head through.

"Going to sleep in a pile of work I see." Lea walked in looking at my messy bed.

"I wish. I'm too busy." I sat up stacking all my things so Lea could sit down.

"You need a vacation Sora." Lea mentioned and I rejected it.

"I can't I have too many assignments to do from school and then I have to work. I don't think I'll get off that easy."

"The years I will never miss." He sighed and laid on my lap from where I sat.

"Hey, this bed is not that big for the two of us and my school work!" I poked his forehead.

"I'm tired and I just got off from work so I decided to stop by since I was close." Lea said making me happy.

"I'm glad you stopped by." I began playing in his hair.

"So how are you holding up? You know, with that Riku situation." I paused in his hair making him open his eyes.

"Why did you stop? That felt nice!" He whined.

"What did I tell you about reminding me about him of all people?!" I pinched his cheek.

"I'm sorry." He said rubbing his face.

"But I'm glad you brought it up." I said.

"It's good to let out your feelings. If I get this off my chest then I'll feel like a ton was lifted off of me. Besides, my counselor hasn't been around lately." I needed to talk this out to hear where I stood on the situation out loud.

"So tell me." He moved my hands back in his hair and I chuckled, moving my fingers just how he wanted.

"I'm still in disbelief with the decisions Riku makes. First he cheats on me then he comes back for me to hear him out, only to find out that he's with someone else now. I don't know what I can do about this, Lea." I spoke.

"You have been trying to forget him haven't you?" He questioned.

"I've tried so hard Lea. Everything surrounding me reminds me of him. Sometimes I just want to take those things and smash them into pieces, but another side of me tells me to keep them. But that only makes it worse and I still remember him. I just wish I could be with him again, but I can't…" I paused and stopped everything I was doing. Lea sat up to look at my expression. I'm still heartbroken. All I feel is pain and to think Riku said this should be for the best. Yeah, I thought the same thing too, but that was a bluff just to cover up how I really felt.

"Sora," Lea placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"Lea, I miss him. I admit it. I want him back. I want to feel his presence. I want him to hold me again. I want to make love like we use to. I want to run my fingers through his hair, I want to see his warm smile, but how can I?" And that's when my tears started to overflow from my eyes as Lea looked away. I didn't want him to see me like this, but I was a wreck.

"I'm sorry, Sora."

"How can I Lea? That's all I want, but how when he's with that bitch!" I held my head, shutting my eyes tightly as I wept.

"This doesn't look like it was for the better. I hate him for this. I hate him!" I yelled.

"But you love him still." Lea already knew and he embraced me as I cried.

"I just want his love." I buried my face in Lea's shirt as he rubbed my back.

"Sora," He lifted my face by my chin and looked me in my eyes. We gazed at each other a little longer than expected when his lips crashed down on mines. I was stunned Lea would do this. He laid me back on my bed and I felt his hand creep up my shirt. I broke away from the kiss and sat up.

"Lea, I-I can't. I'm sorry." I covered my mouth and looked away from his gaze.

"I've always been jealous of Riku when I began hanging out with you. And to think that he would hurt you like this made me angry." Lea wiped my tears away.

"So you've been crushing on me?" I asked.

"You couldn't tell? It was that obvious." He laughed.

"Don't laugh!" I slapped him on his arm.

"Riku always teased me about that." I wiped my face some more as I sniffed.

"If there's anyway I can help to get your mind off of him then I can help. But for now we're going on a vacation." Lea poked my nose.

"I already told you I couldn't!" I swatted his hand.

"What if I told you that I already reserved our spot at a bathhouse?" He pulled out a pamphlet.

"No you didn't!" I snatched the pamphlet and ogled it.

"I did." He winked.

"Lea, Look at what you did!" I groaned.

"I did something nice and now you have to accept it." He poked my side and made me jump.

"And what if I don't?" I stuck my tongue out at him.

"I remember Riku mentioning how ticklish you were." He put up both his hands as if he were about to attack me and I screamed.

"Why would he tell you that? You guys are asses." I leapt off the bed.

"So is that a yes or a no?" Lea asked. I sighed in defeat.

"I'll go." I surrendered.

"You want to see if Kairi and Tidus want to go? We actually have two more spots." Lea added.

"Sure I'll talk to them." I can't believe I was doing this. Now I have to call my job to inform them and then I have to do extra work that will last until I get back.

"But first I want to take a walk."

"You're going at this time of the day?" It's getting dark outside." Lea panicked.

"What? Always did." I moved to put my coat on.

"Do you want me to go with you?" Lea asked.

"If you want to, I usually go alone to clear my mind."

"I'm coming with you." Lea walked with me out the house. I like to walk to this cliff area and watch the water. It helps me to think clearly. It's wrong that I prefer to go close to nightfall, but it's because it feels awkward going in the middle of the day. There are always couples there enjoying their time and then there's me sitting all alone. We arrived pretty quickly when I noticed the huge stone wall to my left with large bushes and to my right were the benches and the railing where the water was. I rushed over there happily to show Lea where I cleared my mind.

"Sora stay close, I don't want you running off this late!"

"Lea I'm fine this is where I always go—" Before I could finish something lunged at me from the bushes and grabbed me, placing a knife against my neck.

"Long time no see." I heard that familiar voice.

"N-Neku?" I dared not to move with the blade pressed against me.

"Sora!" Lea screamed to come after me, but Neku backed away with the blade still at my throat.

"I don't know what's going on, but my crew has been disappearing on me and it has something to do with you!" Neku jerked me in his arms.

"I haven't done anything!" I yelled wishing I didn't run ahead in the first place. Then Neku held me close and pointed the knife at Lea.

"Don't look at me, I haven't done anything either." Lea held his hands up. I don't know what happened after that when I heard a loud crash behind me on top of Neku's head that. That sudden jerk from Neku made me drop to the ground as I watched what happened before my eyes. There was a guy with a black leather coat and a black motorcycle helmet. He was tall and looked muscularly build. I backed away a bit witnessing him brutally beat Neku, who looked like he didn't have a chance. The dark tall figure held Neku who was trying to break away when he slashed at the guy's arm with the knife he used against me. The dark man flinched but he easily dodged Neku's next attack, kicking him to the ground. The tall figure grabbed Neku by his throat and lifted him up easily while he was down, carrying him over to the rail. He was going to throw him over! I mean Neku did cause me trouble, but felt like this was going too far.

"Stop!" I yelled making both guys look at me.

"Please don't kill him. I know he did wrong, but please don't." I yelled. What was I saying? Lea called me lowly who was shocked by my decision. I don't know why I was doing this either, but it felt right. The guy turned towards me and threw Neku to the ground who winced in pain from the impact. I walked over to the guy with the motorcycle helmet and examined his arm.

"It looks bad." I realized Neku actually cut through the jacket to his bare skin, but it wasn't too deep to require stitches. The guy took his arm away and walked off.

"Thank you!" He nodded as a response and walked towards his bike. I looked down at Neku who crawled himself over to the rail to stand. He didn't say anything and kept on moving when I walked over to Lea.

"I think I'll be needing that vacation now." I pinched my bridges and he laughed nuzzling my hair.

"I'm glad you'll be taking my offer."