Wow, I'm so at a blank I'm gonna need ideas for the development of this story.
Axel: That's obvious.
Shut it or I'll make Roxas go with Naminé.
Axel: *grabs Roxas* He's mine bitch!
Then behave! D8 I own nothing. ^_^
"Riku! We're gonna be late and Kairi will kill us! Riku!" Sora called as he knocked on his friend's door.
"Uh, Sora." The brunette turned and saw the silverette coming up the walkway "Are you trying to get my dad out here to start yelling like an idiot?"
Sora blushed with a sheepish smile, "Sorry. But we gotta meet Kairi."
"I know. Come on in." Riku said opening the front door so they could go inside "Just let me grab my stuff 'kay."
"Oh wait a sec Riku. Do you still have all that stuff in your room?" Sora asked with a hopeful smile.
"Yes Sora, I still have that sound system and stuff." growing up Riku loved music; it was a stress reliever from hard days. He had a computer equipped with a recording and sound synthesizing programs so he could make his own songs and even an acoustic guitar; sometimes he even asked Sora and Kairi to sing for him, when his dad wasn't around that is.
Happily Sora followed Riku into his room and got a good look around. A bed under the window much like how Sora had his, a desk with computer and a set of headphones on it to the side of the door, a long dresser sat next the head of Riku's bed on the same wall with a lamp, an alarm clock, a TV, and a few picture frames. Above the dresser hung Riku's guitar on wall hooks "Just as you left it!" he said happily.
Riku gave a short laugh as he got a small backpack from his closet, "Would it be any other way?"
"Well, you could have come back and found your stuff sold off." The brunette noted.
Riku opened the pack to check if he still had his stuff inside, "Yeah right. I locked the door before I left, and he gets too wasted to even try and break it down. That or he feels too lazy. I'm gonna go change in the bathroom." He left Sora alone in the room to look around some more.
[Compared to Riku's your room is a dump.]
"Shut it Roxas." Sora grumbled.
The Nobody laughed as he manifested before his counterpart, "Well, maybe you should take my hint! I'm surprised no one trips over all that stuff you leave in the floor."
Sora crossed his arms over his chest, "So Riku's a bit of a neat freak, big deal! Ever since his mom left he was the one to do the house work since his grandma can't do much and his dad's a jackass."
"Sora who are you- oh hey Roxas, long time no see." Riku said coming back into the room.
"Hi Riku. How goes it?" Roxas said with a smile. His eyes narrowed slightly when he saw the silverette's eyes flash a different color quickly.
"Well I'm back to dealing with everyday life."
"Riku when did you get new swim clothes?" Sora asked looking his friend over.
Riku was wearing a black zip up body glove short sleeved surf shirt and black trunks with blue patterns going up the side of the legs. He was also still wearing his arm warmer. "This morning while I was out. I came and dropped them off earlier before continuing with my job hunt." He said to answer the other boy's question.
They left the room, Riku locking the door behind him, and left the house for the docks to get a boat to go to the Play Island. As they were paddling out Sora asked, "By the way how's your hunt going?"
"You know that market in the town square Selphie's mom owns?" Sora nodded "As soon as I get that damn permit signed by my dad I can start after school on Monday."
"Awesome! So I can get free stuff right?"
"Yeah right."
"At least a discount?" the brunette whined.
"Maybe." Riku said indifferently.
They reached the dock of the Island seeing two other boats tied up and four other teens on the beach. They tied up their own boat, grabbed their backpacks, and started for the beach where the others were.
Kairi and Selphie sat on their towels watching as Tidus and Wakka bumped a blitz ball between them "So when are Sora and Riku supposed to be here?" Selphie asked.
"Soon I hope. I told them three o'clock." The redhead answered.
"I doubt they're even back like you say they are. Face it, they got board of us and hightailed it far away. They're not ever coming back." Tidus said without missing a beat in his game with Wakka.
The tanned teen held the ball once it got back to him, "So says you. You shouldn't be openin' your mouth if you don't know what you're talkin' about, ya."
"Hey! C'mon man! Toss the ball ba-AH!" Tidus screamed as he was suddenly knocked to the ground, face in the sand.
"Tidus! You have no idea how much I missed you!" Sora cheered.
"See what I mean. How ya doin' Riku? Where ya been man?" Wakka said shaking hands with the silverette.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you. Sora let Tidus up before he drowns in the sand." Riku said.
Sora got up quickly and smile sheepishly before going over to Wakka and knocking fists with him, "How are ya Wakka?"
"Same old, same old man. Things been boring without you."
Tidus stood up spitting out sand "You jerk! You could have warned me I was about to be attacked!" the blonde said between spits.
"And Tidus got more annoying." Wakka whispered.
"Big surprise." Sora and Riku said together.
Selphie was suddenly in front of them, "You two! I want a proper hug! Now!" she held her arms open to them with a demanding expression.
"What? Tackling us to the ground yesterday wasn't enough for ya?" Sora deadpanned.
"Now!" she said darkly then smiled as she was given the hugs by the two frightened boys "Good. Now are we all happy?" she said sweetly.
"Scared, but happy I guess." Sora said.
"Now let's get into the water!" Kairi said and she took off towards the ocean with Selphie at her heels.
"C'mon Wakka! I'm gonna flatten your hair for sure this time!" Tidus said pushing said boy in the same direction the girls went.
Sora took off his T-shirt and looked at Riku with a challenging smirk, "Wanna see who can get past the Paopu Island first?"
Riku smirked back, "Why do you continue to challenge me when you know you'll lose?"
"Do I need to ref for you two again? Things never change. Alright, on my mark! 3! 2! 1! GO!" Kairi called from her place in the water.
Sora and Riku took off running to the water until they were waste deep then dived in and started swimming out to sea. For a bit it looked as if Riku would win like he usually did, but it turned out to be… "Draw! Omigawd this is a first! Sora and Riku matched!" Kairi said swimming out to them "I can't believe it!"
"Riku were you going easy on me?" Sora panted.
"If you're winded and I'm not, you know I wasn't. I think you've just finally gotten better." Riku said ruffling the brunette's head.
"Uh Riku, your arm warmer." Sora pointed to the white cloth still on the other's arm.
"It'll dry." Riku shrugged floating on his back.
"Why didn't you just wrap some bandages on your wrist?"
"Why would he need them? Why are you wearing that thing anyway Riku?" Kairi asked.
"I have my reasons." Riku answered.
"Aw Riku, tell her! She'll find out anyway, might as well get it out of the way now." Sora pouted.
Riku sighed in defeat, "Fine. I got a bad scar alright."
"Really? From what?" Kairi said taking his arm and pulling the cloth down to see the marred skin.
"Ow!" Riku exclaimed jerking his hand away when Kairi's fingers bushed over it.
"What are you complaining for? It's a scar, it can't still hurt!" Kairi said with a small glare.
"It was made by Oblivion, a Keyblade with the forged from darkness. You touching it where as you're a Princess of Heart is gonna make it hurt." Riku explained pulling the arm warmer back in place.
"Oh. Sorry."
"Forget it."
"Hey I touched it yesterday and you didn't say anything. And I control light too." Sora said.
"Roxas." Riku pointed out.
Kairi blinked in confusion, "What does Roxas have to do with it?"
"He caused it, he can touch it. So can Sora since it's his Nobody." Riku said.
"Speaking of Nobody's, how's Naminé?" Sora asked.
"It's like having a sister with her around. My parents think I've lost it since they hear me laughing in my room all the time. They don't know it's because of what she's telling me." The girl answered.
"Hey you guys! Come back to shore already! Selphie wants to build a sand castle!" Wakka called.
The three started back for the beach where Selphie had already forced Tidus into piling up sand with her while Wakka gathered water to help hold it "Kairi help out Wakka please." The brunette girl said.
"How much water do we need to make a tiny friggin' sand castle?" Tidus exclaimed.
"Not tiny! We're gonna make the biggest the Island's ever seen! Now get back to work! Riku and Sora, go gather sea shells and stuff to stick onto the castle."
"Yes ma'am!" the two said and took off running down the shore line before anything else was said.
"Okay, who's scarier? Kairi or Selphie?" Sora asked once they were far enough.
"We haven't seen the worst Kairi can dish out so for now Selphie." Riku said looking over his shoulder, half expecting said friend to pull out her jump rope and use it as a whip to work the others. He turned his attention to his friend next to him, finally getting a good look at Sora's bare torso gleaming in the sun from the sea water that still clung to his skin. He mentally slapped himself for the thoughts that popped into his head.
[Bad Riku! No getting those thoughts about innocent little Sora!] Axel mock teased him. If the redhead had a physical body Riku would give him a good one across the jaw.
"Oh by the way. Mom wanted to know if could come over for dinner tonight." Sora said breaking the silverette's thoughts.
Riku shrugged, "Maybe I can stay for a bit. Did you ever get your uniform from the school?"
Sora stooped to pick up a few sea shells he saw buried in the sand, "Mom got it for me while I was asleep. What about you? Got yours already no doubt." Riku shrugged again "Then all that's left is to worry about that test then we're back to being normal teens I guess then."
"Speaking of the test," Riku gathered a few pieces of driftwood "Have you started studying yet?"
"Yeah, Mom's been making sure of that. And Roxas is a great help!" Sora grinned.
"I see. Well how about tomorrow we head to the library and study together? I know there's some stuff you'll need my help with already." Riku said.
"Deal. When do you think we'll be ready for the test?"
"Well if we study together, maybe before this weekend."
"We won't be ready for the test in two days! Come on Riku!"
"Well, maybe you won't be ready." Riku chuckled.
"You saying something about me?" Sora growled.
Riku seem to be in thought for a moment then answered, "Maybe." Then took off down the beach back to everyone else.
"Hey! Get back here Riku and take that back!" Sora shouted chasing after him.
*X*X*X*X*
Kairi watched as her two friends ran around, Sora trying to catch Riku but every time he got close enough to grab the silver hair Riku always bolted father ahead. Safe to say the silverette was teasing him and it made her giggle.
[Ah, it's so cute to watch.]
"I know right? It's wonderful to see they're truly still the same after all that's happened." Kairi said.
The image of a platinum blonde wearing a pure white dress manifested next to her, "I see something else entirely though."
Kairi looked at her, "What do you mean Naminé?" luckily Selphie, Tidus, and Wakka were too wrapped up in their sand castle at a reasonable distance to notice what the redhead was doing.
Naminé watch the two boys running around before answering, "You know how Roxas and Sora are one again?" Kairi nodded "Riku is hosting himself."
"Hosting? I don't understand."
"Remember Sora gave you a message from Axel saying he was sorry for what he did? He gave you the message for him because he had disappeared into darkness?"
"I remember. I wish I could tell him personally not to worry about it, if he didn't kidnap me I wouldn't have met you, or been reunited with Riku and Sora when I was. I owe him." Kairi said with a smile.
Naminé smiled herself as she continued to look at Riku intently, "You just may have that chance."
Kairi blinked in confusion and looked back to her friends as she tried to put the pieces of her Nobody's puzzle together. Riku is hosting, she wants to give Axel her thanks and she may have the chance. What did those two facts have to do with each other…? Then it clicked "Are you saying… Axel is inside Riku?" she asked looking at the other girl.
The blonde Nobody nodded, "Axel is inside Riku's heart, just as Roxas is inside Sora's and I am inside yours."
The redhead looked back at Riku with more confusion than before, "But… I don't get it, Riku never turned into a Heartless so he never got a Nobody. How can he have Axel in his heart?"
"My best guess is that Riku willingly allowed Axel into his heart. I'm not sure how, and I'm not sure when. But it happened. And Riku can do it because he has power over both the light and the darkness now, as shown by his Keyblade." Naminé explained.
"So then, maybe if I ask I can tell Axel! That's great! …But there's something I still don't understand. Why would Riku do that?"
"The answer to that may shock you." Naminé warned looking at her host.
"How so?"
"Well, do you remember when you first met Axel? He said you both missed someone you cared about? When he said he missed someone he cared about, he was talking about Roxas. The only one he liked in Organization XIII."
Kairi blinked, "How is that suppose to shock me?"
"How about I put it this way? When Axel said he cared about Roxas, he means he really cared about him. But as much more than a friend, between you and me Axel loved Roxas." Naminé said.
Kairi had to bite her tongue to keep from exclaiming too loudly about what she heard, "Loved him? You mean like…?"
Naminé nodded, "They we lovers. Despite what the Organization said about not having hearts they fell in love, into a strong one at that even though Roxas may have forgotten about it. But he was forced to, or else Sora wouldn't have woken up. Riku did it so that Axel could at least see Roxas."
"As shocked as I should be, I can't help but find it romantic yet sad. They can't be together like they use to be." Kairi said forlornly.
Naminé made a sound of agreement looking just as sad about the fact, "Well, they'll suffer together then. That will bring them comfort."
"But wait a minute, aren't you in love with Roxas, Nami?" Kairi asked.
"Wha? Goodness no! I don't even know him all that well! All that I know about him is from what Axel was able to tell me when he had the time. Other than that, Roxas and I are pretty much strangers to each other." Naminé answered.
Kairi couldn't help but giggle at the outburst, "Okay I get it. Calm down okay."
"Then what about you? Are you hoping for Riku or Sora to ask you out sometime soon?" the blonde asked with a sly smirk.
That question did make Kairi blush, but it made her think too. In the beginning Kairi had deep feelings for Sora, and she always saw Riku as a protective leader; Sora's courage and Riku's strength, those were two admirable attributes that would make any girl fall for either of them. She had been more drawn to Sora though and her heart leapt with join when she saw him again when she saw him in The World That Never Was.
Not that she wasn't happy to see Riku again; she was, extremely! She wanted to cry when she saw his appearance though, what he did to help Sora wake up. Before they were reunited with Sora though she wondered whose offer she would take when they went home, the fantasies of a teenage girl. But she felt it all die inside when she saw how Sora reacted to seeing Riku again. Embrace her Sora did, but he cried for Riku.
Kairi thought that if either of them thought to ask her out now, she would feel awkward. If she chose one, when they hung out as a group there would be tension between them that she would cause because she denied one of them. For all she knew she could destroy the friendship they had for so long. "Between you and me Naminé, I hope none of them do. It wouldn't feel right." She said.
"Wha?" the blonde was suddenly confused "But I thought it would be your dream come true if one of them did? Why the change of mind? Tell the truth." She said.
"I don't feel that way about them. Not anymore. I don't know why." Kairi said watching them as they ran "Riku stop already! Sora's out of breath!" she called.
Riku stopped running and turned to face Sora who practically collapsed onto his chest. Riku had to fight down his blush as he steadied his friend again "Sora about that Sor." He said.
"You… jerk… making… me… chase you… around… the whole… damn… beach." The brunette panted falling against the other's chest again.
Riku shook his head as he rolled his eyes, "Alright, I'm taking you home."
"Home?" Sora repeated still panting.
"Yeah, the sun's almost gone. C'mon, on my back." Riku made sure Sora could stand on his own before turning around and kneeling.
Sora fell onto the silverette, chest to back as his arms dangled over Riku's shoulders. When he felt hands on the underside of his thighs and was lifted up he said, "Mush!"
Riku shook his head at the ridiculous order, "If I hear one more thing that associates me with a sled dog I'll drop you. Hey guys, we're out! See you later."
"No! You can't leave us with Selphie!" Tidus cried.
"No worries, we're leaving too. It's getting late after all." Kairi said standing up "Come on Selph."
"Hey Riku, Sora! Don't be strangers ya? We missed ya too much!" Wakka called.
Riku and Sora waved from their boat and paddled back home, their friends doing the same not too long after.
What'd I say? I need some good ideas.
Shocker! I'm making Kairi nice in this one! Well maybe not, I've done it before.