Chapter 2: For the love of hydra: Riku's chance
"A…Surprise" Sora asked rhetorically
"Yes a surprise" Yuffie repeated
Sora took a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking again
"So let me get this straight…you interrupt class, tackle me to the ground make the biggest commotion ever and then to top it all off Cloud throws me into the highwind all for a surprise." Sora said condescendingly
"Yup!" Yuffie responded without a hint of remorse
Sora looked at her directly in the eye with a blank stare on his face
"This is exactly something I would expect from you" Sora said unsurprised
"R-Really?" A light blush tainted her cheeks but anger rising at a certain black haired ex Turk
"Vinny what'd you say to Sora!?"
"Nothing simply because I never knew he existed until today." Vincent responded
"I've just come to except the fact that…well you are spontaneous" Sora responded
"Will be arriving shortly" A Voice Sora came to recognize oh so well
"Cid!" Sora shouted as he ran off in the direction of the voice
"Sora wait!" Cloud shouted
"That kid is…he always impatient?" Vincent asked
"If he wasn't always like this do you think Yuffie would want him to be around?" Cloud asked
"True." Vincent agreed
"Hey I heard that!" Yuffie shouted
"That was the point." Cloud said without a hint of remorse
"So…you really are just going to let him go off with some girl instead of making him stay here with you?" Riku asked
"He'll be back of course…but"
"You never get anytime with him, it's ok to be selfish" Riku stated
"Course, I remember everything you did back then, so I kind of understand what you mean by selfish Riku" Kairi said softly
"What do you…oh"
"You risked…even friendship to save me" She said trying to stifle a giggle
"Of course I would…I-"
"-You…don't have to say it I know Riku"
"But of course you don't-"
"-I…never said I didn't" Kairi said unexpectedly
"Yeah but you never told me you do ether" Riku responded
"True…but you never asked!" Kairi retorted
"Heh, so you're saying if I asked you out, or kissed you, you wouldn't turn away?" Riku asked
"I…I wouldn't" She responded hesitantly
"You hesitated…even if you think I'm joking…what I feel for you isn't" Riku whispered as he snaked his arms around the red head
"Riku…"
"Give me a chance, I'll prove it to you, I was willing to forsake everything to save you…and I'll forsake anything to be with you, Kairi"
"Alright…" She whispered
"Huh?"
"Let's…give it a shot Riku"
The brightest smile the teenager had must've been at that exact moment Kairi could tell his eyes shown with excitement and happiness, in truth Riku was a great friend and she did like him but before all this she wanted to be with Sora, she couldn't explain it but after everything Riku did to prove his worth it changed drastically. Sora did everything out of the kindness of his heart; Riku did it because he loved her and threw away everything to prove it.
"Meet me after school, two days from today, I'll have it all planned out" Riku said softly in her ear, she shivered at the feeling
"I'll be waiting, Riku"
Parties, Sora wasn't really good with them especially surprise parties, even worse in a place he'd never been to but with people he knew…well a few he knew he didn't have a problem meeting Tifa again and getting to know this Denzel kid he'd heard about from Cloud landing in near the town they, and when I mean they I mean Yuffie and Sora walked into town Cloud had his motorcycle with him, and Vincent can materialize into his cape. It wasn't that bad though Sora was happy to be around his friends, but Yuffie was absolutely different simply because they talked everyday they even had a conversation solely based on cupcakes that ran on for about three hours.
When he first received this phone he had assumed it to be in emergencies but, as it turns out even if she never wanted to admit it, Yuffie was lonely she was hyper in person because she was around friends, alone is different, when she's alone she sounds…just so mellow and it just isn't normal for the ninja; lonely was something Sora was never ok with, he'd call her when she was alone so she would feel better, so she'd get that spark back in her voice, although when she was like that she'd say the one thing that'd always catch him off guard the first time he heard it he didn't know how to react.
Flash back (Yes I want to do a flash back)
Sora was lying in bed like he'd normally do, his phone stuck to his face from talking from the walk home from school till he got home, even when he took a shower…believe me when I tell you, you don't want to talk to Yuffie when your about to take a shower, she laughed so much you'd think she died and yet when Sora asked her why she found it funny, she'd never say but the conversations always ended the same.
She would fall asleep on him, he didn't mind really it made him feel better knowing he made a difference in her life knowing he was that important that she would talk to him so long. He would from time to time if he stayed on the phone long enough hear her mumble his name in her sleep but this time was different, he sent her messages all that morning and during school, she was upset he didn't know why or the cause but when he called her that evening she was exploded with joy, even while she told him why she was upset…she still seemed happy to talk to him.
"I'm a bit surprised Yuffie" Sora said softly sitting on his bed
"Why?" She asked
"You seemed so sad earlier but…now you're happy, did something happy to brighten your mood?"
"I guess…I just missed you"
"What do you mean, we talk all the time" He responded confused
"Yeah but, it isn't the same I haven't gotten to see you in a year and 8 months you don't know what that does to a person, I think I forgot what your hugs feel like" Yuffie said the last part in mock horror
"Well when we meet again, I'll be sure to give you plenty" Sora said with a cheesy grin on his face, even if she couldn't see it
On the other line he could hear laughter coming from her it was playful yet full of happiness, happiness he caused
"Ah, I love you Sora" She said as she started to calm down
He froze, Sora never heard her say those words to him, hell he never heard Kairi use it or anyone for that matter…no one had even ever said it to him for that matter ether he never even said those words.
"Sora, you awake?" Yuffie asked worried
"Y-Yeah I…Uhm…I lo-love you too, Yuffie" Sora said with a blush on his face
"I'm glad…"Yuffie said softly Sora could feel sadness in her voice
"Are…You ok Yuffie?" Sora asked
No response it was dead quiet he figured she was asleep already trying to figure her out would take hours and it was late…he waited for any type of indication that she was asleep but nothing.
"Sora…I" That's all he heard before she mumbling something else that was the indication he needed
That night he couldn't get the hyper ninja out of his head, even while he slept.
Flashback: Ends here
Sora snaked his arms around her waist as they walked, she tensed up drastically but soon relaxed she adverted her eyes to the ground a rosy blush on her face
"Hopefully now…you won't forget my hugs" Sora said softly against her neck
"C'mon Yuffie say it for the love of hydra you could tell him you love him even if it wasn't the way it was intended for but you still did it how hard can this be?"
"Sora I have something to tell you" She started
Sora stopped in his tracks as Yuffie turned around to face the teenager
"Sora I-"
"Yuffie!" A female voice shouted out
Yuffie did an about face as a young boy and girl came running at her behind them was Tifa She hadn't changed all that much from when Sora saw her last, she was still as youthful and caring as she'd always been and he didn't have a problem with that. What scared him to death was that the young boy looked almost exactly like a miniature Roxas that he almost had a heart attack.
"Sora, you made it!" The martial artist called out
"Course I was so curious about this surprise I had to visit" Sora called out
Two children ran towards the hyperactive ninja wrapping their arms around her legs both asking questions with smiles on both their young faces.
"And, you must be Denzel, I'm Sora" The keyblader said softly
The young boy smiled big but quickly grabbed his head in what seemed to be seething pain
"Are…Are you alright?" Sora asked
"Y-Yeah it's passed" The boy said softly
"You look a lot like Cloud" The younger girl said softly
"Oh, do I?" Sora teased
"Yeah you both have spiky hair and blue eyes" She responded
"That we do…but you know what I wanna know?"
"No, what?" She asked tilting her head to the side in curiosity
"If I could know your name," Sora asked softly
"I'm Marlene" She giggled Sora gently picked her up and gave her a hug her laughter doubled which just made Sora smile brightly
"So what do you think, think he'd be a good dad?" Tifa joked
"Dunno, think Cloud would be?" Yuffie retorted
"Touché, but unfortunately for you, I already know the answer to that" Tifa said with a warm smile on her face
"Yeah well…"
"You haven't told him, have you?"
"I could ask the same of you" Yuffie responded
"It's complicated"
"You live with him, and raise kids with him…how can it be that complicated"
"We just…aren't ready yet but…maybe one day we will be"
"No maybes, believe in yourself!" Sora Exclaimed
"If you like Cloud then show him that you do, I'll root for you so, don't give up!" Sora said proudly
I see…thank you Sora" Tifa smiled a bit wider
Sora felt his back pocket vibrate seconds later, he had a text, he opened it up, and with a shock ridden face he read it.
"You never came home…where are you? I'm worried -mom"
"Damn" Sora said softly