Story 8 ~ Princes' Meeting
"Take this, old man!"
Blasting cheers and a limp body colliding with the hard dusty ground added Axel's grin's width. He was already beating semi-final round of the hero championship, and everything went good until now. He succeeded in beating every opponents he faced without getting injured; not even getting any difficulties (and they dared to call themselves heroes? Snort) and lucky for him and Roxas, because of the hero championship, Roxas didn't have to fight since the Coliseum was occupied. This gave time for the young prince to heal himself. Besides, kicking these wimps' ass gave Axel some sick entertainment; releasing all stress he had before.
"Our newcomer hero has won once again!" Axel turned his head toward the central of arena to see the very same man who said Roxas as the most brutal murderer said in loud voice toward the audience. He narrow his cat eyes in hatred, but he held himself not to kill the annoying man. It would cause ruckus, and he didn't want to see Roxas because he was accused as a criminal as well, but as the hero who saved him…. "Give your loudest cheer to Axel!"
Another round of ear-blasting cheers for Axel, and he grinned awkwardly. Well… people had known him as one of the actors in Kingdom Hearts (he still performed for Kingdom Hearts' plays at the night), but knowing him as a great fighter was something else. In five days long his staying here, many people supported for him and Riku – right, Riku was crawling toward the hero title as well, as his road was no less smooth as Axel. Well, what could he say? He was one of the best fighter in Kingdom Hearts, and Riku… let's just say it would shame the prince to no end if he was beaten by small fries. To put in short, all these things really gave them fame. Unwanted fame.
"You're really showing off there, man!" Demyx hit his best friend's back rather hard on the back when the redhead arrived at one of the room in Coliseum's side building around the arena. "Can't wait to save your damsel in distress?"
"Quiet," Axel swatted Demyx' hand playfully, then thanked Naminé for her offered towel. He sat on one of stony benches, then rubbing his sweaty forehead with the white towel.
"Axel, are you really sure to continue this?" Xion asked with worry in her tone. "You know, we can use the way we use in Destiny Capital…. I'll cause ruckus by calling the Heartless so everyone will be panic, and we can send the secret weapons to our allies there without getting anyone's attention, but in this case we can release Roxas without getting any attention from others…."
"Sshh," Zexion shushed the shorter girl quietly. "Do not say that too loud. It can give us more trouble. Besides, from what I heard from Axel and Riku, Hades already has your power orb. It will be an futile act to release the Heartless here since he too can control the Heartless now, though not as great as you. But this can make him suspicious of us and maybe something we do not hope will be happened."
"You're right…," Xion drooped her head, but Axel ruffled her hair gently.
"It's okay, Xion!" he smiled assuringly. "Riku and me will definitely save him. Trust me."
"…yes," the raven haired girl smiled, pink blush tinted her smooth cheeks when Riku's name was said.
"But please be careful," Naminé said to the redhead, pale blue eyes shining with worry. "Though I know they are no match for you, but you're still playing for our plays at the night, you will be really tired to do all of this in a day without rest…."
"Don't worry, Nam," the redhead smiled gently. "I just want to get him back."
"You seem really care about him," Naminé pouted. "Have you forgotten about me?"
"What?" Axel mocked surprised. "Of course not! You're still number one for me…."
"Well, well, now we're some mosquitos for the two lovebirds here," Demyx teased, grinning to see Naminé's blushing face. "See you later, k?"
It was silence – spare for the background sound of people talking and footsteps around them – between the two members of Kingdom Hearts. Axel stared right into the pale cerulean orbs, but Naminé, still blushing a bit, looked down at her linked fingers. A bigger hand covered the smaller, paler ones, then squeezed it softly. The pale blond girl looked up to the gentle expression of the redhead.
"I'm serious, Nami," Axel whispered, softly pulling the girl closer to him, so their faces only a finger away. "He is the key to our freedom… you still remember our promise, right? With Demyx too… someday, we will get our freedom… we will leave this cursed caravan together…."
"…yes…," the pale girl nodded, her eyes never leaving Axel's. "I believe in you…." A second later, the gentle pale cerulean eyes went completely serious. "By the way, Axel… I have to tell you something; a message from Xemnas himself…."
"It seems we got caught a private moment here."
Cloud calmly stated while the brunette prince before him blushed deep red. They were standing behind one of the large pillars in the Coliseum, first intention was to spy on their future opponent in the championship. At first, they were surprised that two members of Kingdom Hearts – and one of them was that mysterious silverette… Sora almost fainted (in excitement and amazement) when he saw how good and flexible the silverette was in the fight – and found them were really good in fighting. Did they have the same intention with Sora – to save Roxas? They better did; or Sora would make them suffering. They couldn't ignore his little brother like that, okay!
And now, when Sora was curiously spying the rather strong opponent in the championship – he could beat all of his opponents in ease too, though the icky jute coat had to cover his most face as well to prevent someone knowing him, and it bothered him to no end – and tried to hear whatever conversation they had there – no luck, though – suddenly the other members left the two, and the atmosphere turned into something very different from before.
"…uhh…," Sora's blush deepened when he saw the couple decreased the distance between their faces.
"Ah, here comes the kiss−"
"Let's go, Cloud…!" the young prince quickly grabbed his guardian's hand and dragged them away from there. "We-we 're not here to see that…!"
"But it seems you're curious," the spiky blond guardian smirked in amusement. The prince was really naïve it's adorable. It would earn a bruised shin and starving for a whole day though, so Cloud never said it out loud. "Have a certain someone to kiss too?"
A glimpse of silver strands and aquamarine eyes in Sora's mind, then his face was totally red a second later. Cloud's smirk widened.
"I bet it's not Lady Kairi…," he said softly, and he really did earn a bruised shin a while later. Maybe it's better for him not to say anything to the currently sensitive prince…. It's funny, though.
"How about you?" Sora managed to talk back. "Don't you want to kiss someone too?"
"Huh?" Cloud stared at the brunette blankly. "…no idea."
"Ah, you're boring!" Sora pouted seeing the flat expression on his guardian, then turned around, right into someone's chest. "Ah, pardon−"
Sora's eyes widened when his eyes caught the other's eyes. Those shining aquamarine eyes… it's awfully familiar…. And indeed it was familiar when a smile adored the pale pink lips – Sora spent a few minutes staring at the same lips a few days ago; how could he not realize whose it was?
"It's okay," Riku said gently as Sora still leaned on his chest, both of hands pressed onto the (broad, toned) chest. "Are you okay, though? You seem can't stand…."
"Oh− uh, ah, s-sorry…," the brunette prince blushed hard again as he messily tried to stand on his feet again so he didn't lean on the comfortable chest anymore. "So, so sorry… I didn't pay attention to where I walk before, I'm so sorry…."
"It's okay, really," the taller teen offered his greatest smile, making the blush on Sora's face crept to his ears. "As long as you're okay."
'A sweet talker,' Cloud commented silently as he watched the scene before him in amusement. He raised an eyebrow to the awkward smile on Sora's face. 'I didn't know Sora likes the lady's man type….'
"You are… Sky, right?" Riku nodded at Sora, then at Cloud. "And you're Cloud."
Sora cringed at the name, while Cloud silently remembered how he face-palmed and Sora jaw-dropped at Zack who suggesting the name. Sora had to use a fake name to prevent the Senator knew him – though they hadn't met directly to each other, but Sora was sure Hades knew his name. But – Sky? It's more ridiculous than Cloud….
"Y-you know me?" Sora asked, cursing Zack for assigning him with such outrageous name. Riku would think he was a freak…. "I mean…."
"The jute coat let me know it's you," the silverette actor grinned in amusement. "But, both of you have such matching name, hmm?"
"Ah! We… we are…," the prince was really panicked now. "…we're brothers!"
Cloud tried hard to hold back his jaw dropping.
"I see!" Riku smiled widely. "Well, my name is Riku, nice to meet you, Sky, Cloud."
"N-nice to meet you too…," Sora nodded, trying to smile back but the name made him cringe instead. He wouldn't say he already knew Riku since in Destiny Capital. "You are a participant too, right? I saw you fighting at the arena a few times…."
"Yeah," the silverette prince nodded. "All of them were easy opponents. But you… I saw your fighting is different…." He leaned toward Sora so he could whisper right into Sora's ear. "…I'm looking forward to fight you, Sky…."
Riku pulled back his body with dazzling smile as Sora was blushing hard, a hand covering his warm ear. Cloud watched this with raised eyebrows, but decided not to disturb.
"Well, see you around, then!" the taller teen said as he bowed a bit.
"A-alright, see you around…," the Keyblade wielder stuttered again – in past few minutes, Riku was able to make him stuttering the most in his life. What's wrong with him? He was the prince, the heir of Twilight Kingdom throne, he could control himself perfectly, thank you very much. So why, why this mere proletarian actor could make him stuttering like an idiot, uneducated boy?
Giving a last dazzling smile, Riku walked away into the crowd around them, hiding himself from the prince and his guardian's eyes. Cloud's eyes followed his direction for a while, and his eyes widened when he saw a familiar brown head – THAT man again…! But a fat man crossed his view, and the mysterious man was vanished into the air.
That day, when Sora was left wondering why Riku could leave such impression to him, Cloud was left wondering who was the scarred man, being always near him all the time….
Roxas always loved people. He loved crowd, he loved festivities, he loved all the human beings. Though he didn't mingle with the crowd, he still loved to see them, taking everything in front of his eyes, wondering why people did something they did. Why a father would work hard for his family without thinking about himself? Why a child would cry if his/her mother left him/her? Why a person would give everything to the beloved person? Why, why, and why?
Everything was a mystery for him, and he liked to seek the answer. People were really interesting, and often did things that made his heart warm. Just like how Phil was willing to tend him until he was healed enough though he didn't have to. Phil supposedly didn't have to take care of a criminal, but he did anyway. And to think about it, the short man was totally opposing Roxas on the first day, but now they were chatting everyday like old friends as they waited for the championship to finish. Roxas didn't know what made him changed so drastically, but he thanked for it, and very happy about it. A new friend was all he needed right now; no, the most he wanted right now. He loved people, anyway.
Though a few days ago Roxas could feel how it was when people looked down to him and they could be really cruel, he still loved people.
Though he was wounded and cold, and lying in a dark prison alone because people wanted to make him as an entertainment, when he woke up with a warming coat around him, suddenly everything was no matter to him and he loved people completely again.
"So, this Axel and Riku have won every rounds they in," Phil informed as Roxas munched his bread quietly. Like usual, Phil would inform him everything above them – Roxas could hear the noises from above, from the arena, but he couldn't make it whether who was winning or losing the battle. And since Phil knew Axel and Riku were Roxas' friends, he was as excited as Roxas to see them winning. "They have great potentials. Actually, there are only a few who has such abilities. They would make great heroes! To think they are mere actors… what a waste…."
"But they love acting, Phil," the blond prisoner smiled. "I see how they put their heart in it. Besides, they bring beautiful stories, and they make people happy without violence." He drooped his head sadly. "…I'm still wondering why people here like to see violence as an entertainment…." But he still loved them entirely.
"I don't know as well, kid," Phil shook his head with deep frown on his face. "I don't like this too…. I was acting all cruel to you because I have to…. I'm forbidden to be friendly with a prisoner like this, but I see you're a good kid, and I'm lonely as hell too. A few chitchat won't hurt, right?"
Roxas really loved people; and his love was increased when he saw Phil's crooked but sincere grin. It was the smile – he loved seeing people happy.
Because, though people hurt him the most, but they made him happy the most too. Just like when he saw Sora's smile, he would smile as well.
'Sora… I hope you will always smile like you always do….'
Author's Note
Because it seems a really long chapter discouraging most people to read, I'll remake all the chapters to be shorter, and while I'm doing it, please enjoy this chapter. Review will be really, really appreciated! 8D You know, somewhat it discourages me to keep writing when I don't know whether people keep reading this or not….. so please tell me what do you think about this story, is it worth to be continued? Thanks! 8)
Happy reading! (sorry for typos and/or grammars mistakes)