Chapter LXXIII: The trials of the Coliseum part IX

Opening the coliseum entrance doors Nozomi then quickly shut behind her as she walked down the steps until she arrived at the bottom, Cait sith in the meantime was tagging along as he sat upon his usual favourite resting place, her comfy black hair.

Getting herself comfortable she sat herself down as she placed her hands on the sides of her face as she looked on tiredly with bored depressed eyes as she then let out a huge sigh, "man… things can't be any worse can they?"

It had now been quite some time since the match between Ori and Saria, as Nozomi and the other's had fought in other matches against different sorts of heartless, which they had all won with no extreme difficulty. However during this time Nozomi had said not a word to either Riku nor the king as she had been extremely angry with the two of them with what had happened between them and their nobody opponents.

Remembering the last match as she had looking at Riku and the king crossly it made her feel more depressed as she wasn't usually one to hold onto a grudge this long but… with what happened she couldn't forgive the two of them that easily either.

Confused and frustrated she then cried out mad, "aw! What am I supposed to do!?"

Cait sith hearing her from where he was just as annoyed with the way things were then got up and tugged her hair hard making her stop in mid complaint gasping in sharp pain as he then spoke to her mad, "will ya stop fussin and just make up already if ya feelin that down lass!"

Feeling him pull back making her head hurt still Nozomi then spoke as she had one eye closed cringing, "Cait sith! Let go of me! Ow! It hurts!"

At this Cait sith though wasn't going to be that easygoing as he replied, "I ain't goin' to until ya promise to stop whinging!"

Hearing him still in pain Nozomi wanted this harassment to end quickly so replying quickly she spoke, "all right! All right! I give in just let go!"

Cait sith listening intently getting the words he wanted then quickly let go of her as he spoke again, "good to see ya get it lass!"

Feeling him let go of her hair Nozomi then bowed her head quickly glad for the relief as she felt the pain flow away gradually, Cait sith though still on top of her looked at her still a little cross as he said aloud," honestly why do ya have to make life difficult for ya self?"

After a further quiet moment Nozomi had now recovered from the hard tugging and aching as she then turned her head to look up at the sky… she looked depressed as she saw the clouds drifting on slowly despite the difficulties upon the earth.

Looking at them she then decided to speak aloud, "I'm not trying to… it's just I don't get it, I mean what do the two of them have against nobodies? Nothing's been explained about them to me and also…"

Looking down at her as she went quiet about this Cait sith then enquired curious, "and also…?"

Nozomi then looked down as she replied, "I just keep getting this feeling they're hiding something from me, cause at one time or another they go all quiet and solemn… even after something really fun is happening."

Listening to her words Cait sith was quiet, for he himself had also noticed the quiet seriousness that often followed the mouse king and snow drop around… he then suddenly jumped off of Nozomi's head as he landed beside her and sat himself down his tail wagging slowly to and throw in thought.

Nozomi looking down at him blinked puzzled as she wondered of he had something to say, it was quiet for a little and so seeing he wasn't going to say anything she began to open her mouth to speak herself when suddenly Cait sith spoke up, "I can see it there me self there lass… and ya are right about the fact them about not explaining everything to ya… so all in all the lot of ya just need to understand each other."

Hearing him say this so simply Nozomi though couldn't believe it and so replied back, "how can you say that so simply! It's not as easy as all that to-"

However Cait sith immediately countered as he quickly jumped up and pointed his gloved hand at her mad, "ya are wrong there lass! The only reason all this uneasiness is goin on in the first place is cause neither yaself nor them have bothered to explain anything clearly to each other! So until one of ya begin to do that this ain't gonna get solved!"

At this looking at him totally baffled Nozomi asked him slowly, "Uh… so you want me to?"

Still in his teacher like mood Cait sith then told her straight and simply, "when ya see one of the two of 'em make them explain everythin to ya!"

Now finally clicking into place what he was talking about Nozomi paused as she felt the bad feeling inside subsiding slightly as she had been given the clue what to do as she then smiled and looked down at him and replied looking away, "okay then, that's fine… but I'm not going to apologise for anything."

Glad to see at least the dummy had cheered up now slightly Cait sith smiled himself as he then looked up himself into the sky, "right ya are then lass."

More silence followed between the two of them as they continued to look up at the cloudy blue sky as the warm light continued to shine down upon them. Looking out at everything for another moment Nozomi then turned back her sights to Cait sith who she saw was in a quiet sad mood himself, looking at him she then asked, "thinking about something?"

Hearing her Cait sith didn't bother to look back at her as he replied, "somethin like that."

Nozomi still looking down at him then looked sad herself, as she then knew whom it was as she said, "it's Oralee isn't it?"

At this answer Cait sith's tail simply froze in the air for a few moments as it then became lax and dropped to the floor showing his depression as he replied, "bang on there lass."

Seeing him like this Nozomi then could understand his feelings as she thought of Wairu once more as she asked him, "You must miss her a lot huh?"

Hearing her Cait sith replied still looking out to the sky, "more than ya can know lass."

Looking at him Nozomi then smiled sadly as she then asked, "Have you known her for a long time?"

Still looking outward Cait sith replied, "aye lass, ever since she was nine years old, seven years in total she and I were together though thick and thin… this is been the first she and me have been apart this long."

At this reply Nozomi looked down herself, as she understood at least one thing everyone had in common was that they were all apart from someone important to them, Mickey and Riku from their friends, Cait sith from Oralee and herself from Wairu and her long last master…

Realising this she looked at Cait sith gently and then said, "I see… do you wanna sit on my lap?"

At this looked at her suddenly surprised unused to this type of behaviour from her as he asked, "ya what?"

Nozomi herself totally unsurprised by his reaction replied feeling strange herself for offering, "well do you wanna rest on here? Cause I thought it'd be a lot more comfortable then the hard stone steps, that's all and well… yeah."

Hearing this explanation Cait sith was still unsure exactly of where this was leading to… Nozomi seeing his uncertainty then turned her head to look up back up the sky thinking that her act of generosity was being refused.

But then suddenly without warning she felt something pounce onto her lap, looking quick now surprised herself Nozomi then turned to see that Cait sith was now sat upon her legs as he made himself comfortable.

Looking at him baffled Nozomi then heard him say, "well I'm glad to see that even a banshee like yerself can have their soft spots about 'em, I ain't gonna pass a blue moon chance like this for anythin!"

Hearing him say this in his usual humour Nozomi then replied smiling a little more, "well I'm glad to know that I've got a good soft spot!"

Cait sith happy himself then curled himself on her lap as he made to have a nice long nap, seeing him do this Nozomi smiled gently as she moved her hand saying, "thanks a lot Cait sith… I promise you and Oralee will be reunited someday… I'll make sure about it."

Looking down at him there was no reply though as Nozomi then assumed that he'd drifted off to the land of nod, which she was happy for as she felt his warmth on her legs.

"I see that you are certainly in high spirits."

Hearing this new voice all of a sudden Nozomi almost jumped out of her skin and quickly looked up and saw the familiar red shaded cloaked figure of the much talked about…?

Pointing at him Nozomi spoke "hey it's you! Um… what was it again…" She thought as she tried to remember this guy's name once more.

Seeing her puzzling dilemma he spoke up in his cold serious tone, "Vincent… Valentine."

Hearing him say this Nozomi replied, "yeah that's it uh-" then suddenly realising she was acting like a total moron she spoke, "oh man I'm sorry, you must think I'm so stupid to-"

"You are certainly a forgetful individual yes," he replied calmly as he walked to the stairs and then stood next to one of the pillars and laid his back against it.

Looking at him puzzled Nozomi had no idea how to interact exactly with this overly mysterious guy as she was quiet for a moment, but then feeling unsure about this quiet atmosphere around them she spoke up, "so uh… what are you doing here exactly Mr Valentine?"

At this the red clad stranger replied his eyes closed, "wandering…"

Hearing him say this Nozomi was quiet before she replied, "oh?...I see were you bored or something?"

At this though no reply came from Vincent's lips as he simply opened his eyes revealing his blood red irises only confusing Nozomi more as she wondered what was up with this guy?

However she hadn't given up on a conversation yet as she then asked, "so uh?... What are you here for in the tournament? Are you trying to win the Cubix cup or something?"

Listening to this question Vincent was silent… but then came a serious reply, "you."

At this answer Nozomi froze slightly as she was silent for a moment before snapping back into a normal state of mind, "uh what?"

Hearing her ask again Vincent answered once more making it clear, "you answer first."

Understanding suddenly Nozomi sighed with relief and then thought herself incredibly stupid for not getting it in the first place as she answered, "oh uh right, um, okay…"

With that she then told him simply why she and the others had entered the coliseum matches, "well my reason and the other's is simply to get stronger so we can accomplish more in the future and stuff, also I just want to make sure I don't hold everyone up anymore and act a little more maturely… so we can all reunite with the people important to us." She finished as she looked down at Cait sith's continuing slumbering form.

Listening to this small explanation Vincent was silent for a moment, but then once again he closed his eyes as he then answered, "it appears as though we have something a little in common then."

At this Nozomi turned and looked at Vincent in surprise to learn she and her friends had something in common with this mysterious guy, she then replied, "really?!"

Hearing her all that Vincent did in reply though was do a small simple nod, his eyes still closed.

Looking at him as he did this Nozomi was intrigued as she then decided to inquire, "Can I ask what it is we've got in common with you?"

Vincent silent for a further moment then opened his red eyes once more as he looked at her with his serious expression while all Nozomi did was look at him innocently puzzled.

Seeing her do this Vincent could feel no evil echoes in her… and so decided to reveal this one small thing about himself, "I'm searching for a lost loved one of mine…"

Blinking as she heard this Nozomi was surprised to learn he was searching for someone like that as she asked, " a loved one?"

Vincent once again nodded," correct… a woman named Lucrecia… I've been looking for her for a long time."

Listening still Nozomi was quiet but then as she heard Vincent pause she then asked, "So that's why you've come here? This is one of the places that you were investigating to find her?"

Vincent nodded, "correct… and unfortunately for some time I have been unable to leave this world."

Hearing this Nozomi's eyes looked on with concern for this had not been the first time that something like this had happened as she remembered that her friends in the Radiant Gardens had suffered from the same problem as well.

However Vincent continued on " because of the walls surrounding this world I cannot travel any further… until this issue is solved."

At this further explanation Nozomi then understood finally why Vincent was entering the tournament battles, it was just to kill time until he could move on.

Realising this Nozomi looked at him as she then asked, "um, Mr Valentine?"

Looking at her once more quietly he replied, "yes?"

Nozomi staring at his red eyes began to feel a little unsure of herself but decided to proceed forwards with what she had to say, "Have you ever been to somewhere called Hollow Bastion? It's also called the Radiant Gardens now too."

Hearing this question Vincent stared at her for a moment before he once again closed his eyes and replied, "no I have not."

Brightening as she heard him say this Nozomi then proposed her idea, "okay, um cause I just a thought if you went there I'm sure the guys there could help you, their world was locked up too and they were trying to find a way out of it and um… they got this Magician there called Merlin! And maybe he could help you find this lady Lucrecia you're looking for."

His eyes closed listening to her little idea Vincent was far from believing as he asked her, "I see… and what evidence do you have that they can accomplish this?"

At this question Nozomi suddenly stopped as she had her mouth open as though to answer… however no words came out of her mouth as she then said quietly, "uh… I don't…"

Vincent hearing her say this only looked simply away as he shouldn't expect much from a child least of all a young teenage girl.

However Nozomi hadn't given up entirely as she tried again, "but I'm sure that they can! I mean me and my friends were able to leave and they've got loads of mechanical and magical stuff so… they must be able to do something for you… maybe."

Hearing her say this Vincent looked at Nozomi as she was pausing looking still hesitant as she was trying to find some way to convince him, however looking at her odd face his own mood softened slightly as he then got up to move as he then spoke once more, "I see then… well if you truly believe that…"

Nozomi then watched as Vincent then walked up the stairs and then stood beside her as looked over her and said, "prove it to me and be victorious in the final match."

Hearing this great mysterious tall hero tell her to do this Nozomi was dumfounded for a moment but then suddenly she felt her competitive and determined nature flare up as she replied, "all right I will! Then you can see for yourself!"

At this Vincent looked at her further for another moment before proceeding up the stairs and proceeded through the doors. Looking after him as he left Nozomi was quiet but then her smile returned as she looked down at Cait sith who continued to slumber, "I guess he's interesting after all." She finished as she then scratched behind one of Cait sith's ears.

But then once again came another voice though this time familiar, "who's interesting?"

Hearing this with a jump Nozomi turned her head suddenly and then saw to her surprise Riku looking down at her from the coliseum doors.

Seeing his annoyed face and hearing his voice however only provoked her to return back to her sour mood as she turned her face away in a huff and gave him the silent treatment.

Riku seeing her do the same reaction once again got further irritated himself at this display as he then proceeded down the stairs and then sat himself on the opposite side of the stair she was on.

Hearing him approach and sit down Nozomi however was refusing to look at him… for though Cait sith had told her to try and understand, hearing and seeing Riku act like this only made her feel more sour.

Looking at her still intently with irritation Riku then decided to speak, "hey?"

However there was no response.

He tried again, "will you say something already?" Nozomi though only turned away further still mad.

Now truly irritated he then practically, "how can you still be mad at me and even the king for the match and-"

But suddenly surprising him Nozomi turned angrily and replied right back, "I have every right to be mad! This isn't just some small thing you know! You nearly killed her and-"

"She's a nobody! Both of them are! They were going to do serious harm to everyone, all nobodies are-"

"That's a total lie! You've never even told me about what it is that any nobodies have ever done wrong to you! How am I supposed to believe you when you haven't told me anything!"

There was then a pause between the two of them as Riku looked on gasping for air as Nozomi did the same thing after pouring their frustrations out.

Pausing though for a moment the two of them stared at each other but then Riku registering what she was saying, "I haven't-"

But then interrupting him Nozomi spoke again, "yes that's right! You haven't explained anything to me about the nobodies! The only thing you have said is that they have no hearts and that's it! I don't see why you should label them evil just for that!"

Feeling himself calming down Riku sighed as he looked at her though still annoyed as he then said, "it's more than just that…"

Looking at him still annoyed a little she then said, "well let me understand then! That's what I need right now, I need to understand things… otherwise this bad atmosphere will never go away… and I don't want it to stay…"

Listening to her say this Riku was surprised to hear that, but then again she did deserve to know that much about the nobodies and at least the clear facts about the heartless.

So looking at her he then spoke to her more calm now, "all right then… I'll tell you."

Nozomi then concentrated her gaze on him as he then explained everything, he told her then fully about the heartless and the nobodies, what they had done to the various other worlds and about Organization XIII and how they were trying to control him and his friends with their leader Xemnas and how they caused chaos all across the worlds.

Nozomi listening to him was quiet as she nodded in silent understanding now and again until he finally finished his explanation, opening his eyes to look at her Nozomi looked back at him more calmly as she then digested everything inside and made up her own mind coming up with her own conclusions.

Looking at her he then asked, "do you get it now?"

Silent for a further few moments Nozomi looked down at the ground as she replied, "for the most part yeah… I can understand now why you have a distrust against them…but."

At this pause Riku then asked her, "but what?"

Nozomi quiet then turned and then looked at him as she replied, "but you're still wrong in thinking that way about Saria and the others… because you said so yourself, you defeated Organisation XIII… they're finished now, she and Ori have got nothing to do with them."

Riku was quiet as he acknowledged her words as he replied, "yes… that much is true however Ori revealed a certain fact to us, he and Saria are serving someone."

At this Nozomi turned and looked him surprised as she asked, "what?"

Riku then told her, "He said that she and him have no other reason to live except to serve… though he wasn't definite on whom it was they serve."

Quiet as she heard this information Nozomi looked at him and then around herself once more as she then thought… suddenly it dawned on her as she reached a conclusion, "well it's simple then isn't it?"

Looking at her Riku asked her puzzled, "what? What's simple?"

She then looked at him and said, "Ori and Saria are doing it on orders, and it's not actually them that want to do this, right?"

Hearing her Riku looked at her perplexed as he asked, "what?"

Seeing him react this way Nozomi then said again," they're not doing it because they want to, they're doing it on orders… so the one you should be disliking is the one making them do this, don't you think?"

Listening to her simplistic idea Riku was far from believing her as he said, "how can you believe that so simply? There's no way that I can-"

However Nozomi was far from giving up as she then said, "well why don't you get the truth?"

"Get the truth?" He asked her unsure.

Nodding Nozomi replied, "yeah, after the tournament is settled then we'll see for sure and if I am right, you have to apologise!"

At this Riku was outraged as he complained mad, "why should I have to apologise! They were-"

However once more Nozomi looked at him with her enraged gaze as she spoke harshly, "because it's the right thing to do! That's why!" With that she turned her face away from him again refusing to look.

Riku startled for a moment was silent… looking at the ground he felt mad and yet he himself didn't want this hostile atmosphere to continue, so grudgingly he let his conscience have the better of him as he then accepted defeat, "all right! All right!... I'll do it…"

At this Nozomi turned around and looked at him surprised as she saw Riku look red with embarrassment but then suddenly she heard him say, "but only if it was on whoever's orders!"

Seeing him like this Nozomi then couldn't help but smile at his reaction and behaviour as he found him quite adorable like this so then laughed, "okay then… anyway I knew you would eventually!"

At this he looked at her outraged, "what!?"

Smiling she replied, "well you always do right? It takes you a while but you always apologise eventually right, that's one of the things that I do know quite well about you."

Hearing her say this Riku was once more caught off guard as he blushed red further as he looked down and complained, "Stop mocking me…"

Listening to him say this Nozomi shook her head smiling as she then moved her hand over and put it on his shoulder and said, "I'm not mocking you… okay?"

Riku then turned and looked at her and saw her bright happy smile as she then said, "thank you Riku, thanks for letting me understand things."

Seeing her smile and hearing her say this he looked away as he then replied, "it's fine… besides you had to be told eventually."

Nozomi then nodded in reply as she removed her hand and looked away, "yeah that's true… but you know, there is this one other thing that's been bugging me for a while now."

Looking at her Riku asked, "there is? What?"

Hearing him ask Nozomi then replied looking back at him again, "well I still don't know anything else about you, like where you come from and what it's like and also your friends, I mean I've told you about my home and Wairu so I was wondering if you could tell me about it?"

Hearing her say this Riku looked at her surprised that she wanted to know something so simple, but then he found himself then smiling himself as he then replied, "of all things you could ask me about…"

Nozomi then turned her head curious if he was going to tell her or not, but then her answer was given to her as he then begun his description, " the place where I come from is a place called the Destiny Islands."

Hearing this name Nozomi echoed curious, "the Destiny Islands?"

Riku nodded in reply, "yeah that's right, it's a series of tropical islands where the air is always warm, the sun there is practically nearly always shining and the sea is always beautiful and crystal blue."

Hearing him say this Nozomi's eyes lit up as she spoke, "wow you mean you live by the ocean!"

Looking at her seeing her excited face Riku looked surprised as he replied, "yeah of course I do… why?"

Nozomi then replied instantly, "That's so cool! Wow I mean I've never even seen the ocean or a beach! Wow you're so lucky!"

Hearing her praise him like this Riku almost became bashful but then shrugged it off as he replied, "thanks… it's not that big of deal though."

Nozomi smiled still though as she quietened down and let him carry on, "anyway that's where I lived playing on the secret hideaway with my friends."

Listening to this Nozomi's curiosity got the best of her again as she asked, "hideaway? What kind of place was that?"

Hearing her ask Riku looked into the sky as he described it to her, "it was a simple small island where we'd sail to on our boats, down there we used to have midnight fires, having fencing matches, play hide and seek, there was even a small fort built there where you'd be able to use hand rails and have races and stuff like that and also…"

The more he described his home the more Nozomi was enthralled by it as it seemed so incredible and fun compared to where she'd lived as she said, "it's sounds like so much fun! I bet if I was there I'd never wanna leave…"

At this though Riku became a little more serious in his tone, though he was happy to talk about his home to her, "yeah… you'd think so but after a while, me and my friends wanted to leave the islands and explore other worlds, cause though it was peaceful and fun… it was just the same old routine and nothing changed… and I grew tired of it and wanted to leave."

Listening to him as he described these feelings to her she could relate herself as she replied," I see… well I can understand that feeling… I mean there were so many times I wanted to leave Bamboo town… but yet I never could until this… how were you planning to leave the islands?"

Hearing Nozomi as she mentioned his own similar feelings Riku was quiet until he heard her ask how he intended to leave which made him remember bad memories… which he didn't want to tell her so he told her, "we were all going to sail on a raft we built together… until the heartless attacked."

At the words of the heartless attack Nozomi then knew it probably was enough to talk about that… since he'd probably gone through the same thing she had… but then she decided to ask, "so what about your friends? What're they like?"

Hearing Nozomi ask about his friends Riku all at once brightened instantly, "my friends… well you know one of them already about, Sora?"

Nozomi nodded happily as she was glad he'd cheered up as he talked about his friends, "yeah I remember him, he's the famous keyblade master everyone's been talking about and… there's something about him that's blue I've still got to decide on right?"

Hearing her still trying to decide on something so simple Riku smiled, "yeah that'd be him, let's see what can I say about Sora… well this might be a surprise to you but he's a little similar to you."

At this Nozomi was surprised as she blinked, "what really? What makes me and him similar?"

Smiling still Riku told her, "well the two of you have a similar happy outgoing side, as well the same type of naïve childishness."

Listening to this Nozomi got a bit mad as she said, "hey I'm not that childish!"

Looking at her though Riku was practically smirking now as he replied, "I beg to differ… and I'd say that your level of clumsiness is a few points over his."

Not liking him point out her weaknesses Nozomi grumbled, "It's not my fault! I don't ask to be that way… and anyway what's the differences between us then?" She asked wanting him to change the subject.

Smiling glad to see that he had a peg over her now he decided then to do just that, "well differences… a few things I'd say, he's not that good at mathematics, he doesn't get as mad or argumentative as you and… he has a tendency to cry a bit too much."

At this Nozomi was curious as she asked, "cry too much? Like at what?"

His smile broadening Riku then spoke, "well a good example would be when he and I finally saw each other again, he was so over joyed that he dropped to his knees and weeping holding my hand, which was a little embarrassing."

Hearing him say this Nozomi could just imagine the scene and smiled broadly herself letting out a small laugh she replied, "wow he must be a real softie then."

Letting a small laugh fall from his lips Riku replied, "You've got that right!"

Smiling still Nozomi then said, "that makes him a little similar to Wairu then."

At the mention of her own friend Riku asked, "huh why? What makes that similar to him?"

Nozomi looked to the ground as she remembered her own past as she replied, "well… when I was little and bullied with Wairu he wasn't really strong and so he easily came to tears when he got beat up… he hated it, but I was always there to wipe them away and make him feel better… though nowadays he doesn't so much anymore, he's a lot more serious now…"

Looking at her as she spoke sadly of her past Riku was quiet as he didn't know really what to say at this time… but then suddenly Nozomi spoke, "well anyway sorry I'm getting off the topic, who's your other friend you were going to talk about?"

At this Riku blinked himself as he replied, "my other friend? Oh yeah of course… her name is Kairi."

Hearing this name being mentioned Nozomi felt her heart tighten as she had to hold herself back from holding her chest as she asked, "Kairi?"

Riku nodded, "yeah my other best friend, she's not really a keyblader like me and Sora or you, though I did lend her a keyblade during one battle… she's not really a born fighter though, she's something more than that…"

At these words Nozomi asked, "something more? What do you mean by that?"

Riku then smiled sadly as replied, "she's… a princess of heart, one of the seven purest of hearts which don't have a shred of darkness inside them… she's also the most important person to Sora…"

Hearing these words Nozomi felt her heart tighten more inside… and she still didn't understand why? Why was this happening, but ignoring it she then spoke, "wow… that's amazing she must be a really incredible person."

At this Riku shook his head smiling as he replied, "well she is amazing in her own way… but she's not incredible but she is the reason me and Sora wanted to explore other worlds."

Listening to these words Nozomi knew though that this… Princess Kairi was incredible to have people want to move forward like that but then she decided to speak again, "I see… thanks for that Riku now I know a little more about you."

Looking at her he then spoke, "well good then, perhaps you'll now talk to Mickey too?"

At the mention of the king Nozomi replied, "oh yeah of course!... I'll do that the next I see him…."

There was then silence between the two of them as Riku wondered of whether to tell her right there and then the whole truth of what she really was… and what was going to happen, so he begun, "Nozomi?"

Hearing him she turned and looked at him puzzled as she asked, "yeah?"

Looking at her Riku then looked away again as he looked down at the ground, he felt insecure about telling her the whole truth… however he spoke again, "there's something I need to tell you."

Curious at this Nozomi asked, "tell me? Tell me what?"

At this Riku halted again as he was still hesitant… he then spoke again, "it's something…. Something very, very important that me and the king… have been thinking of telling you."

Nozomi not getting why he was so hesitant asked, "something important like what?"

Riku only became more hesitant as he looked away from her not liking the foreboding feeling inside of himself.

Still not understanding Nozomi was getting mad, "well it can't be that important if you can't even say it to me." She spoke as she looked away from him.

At this Riku though shook his head, " No… it is very important… but I'm worried."

Hearing this Nozomi turned and looked at him surprised at these words as she asked, "worried? Worried about what? She asked.

Riku couldn't look at her as he then said, "because… if I do say it… I'll hurt you… we'll hurt you, and I don't want you to become that way…"

Nozomi was really startled to hear this as she felt her heart thump mysteriously again as she repeated, "hurt me?"

Hearing these words Riku nodded, "that's right…"

Quiet herself Nozomi looked down at the ground as she wondered what on earth it could possibly be… what kind of words could he say that'd hurt her?

But then she heard him say, "but… I don't how to say it…"

At this Nozomi then looked up and then closed her eyes as she made a decision as she said, "I see… well… I don't want to hear it for now then."

Riku then quickly turned and looked at her as he said, "what? By why-"

However Nozomi interrupted him as she told him looking into the sky," I think it'd be easier for me to understand if you and the king prepared yourselves… cause it might not be best to tell me right now… since we've still got the tournament to do and stuff…"

Looking at her Riku wondered if she'd even grasped anything he'd been saying but then he heard her say, "so tell me after the tournament and everything's done okay?" With that she then turned around and put a hand to his shoulder once more as she said, "Besides I'm a strong girl… I won't get hurt that easily besides I believe in you…" she smiled.

At this Riku was surprised at this act but then this made him ask, "why do you always put a hand on my shoulder?'

Nozomi then blinked, "huh? Why?" With that him staring up at her with his pale blue eyes Nozomi got embarrassed as she withdrew her hand back and answered, "well… it's because, well because um I'm just comforting you! And besides… well I could give you a hug but… well guys don't like hugs usually and… well we're not really that close and-"

However suddenly Riku said something that really shocked her for the day, "I wouldn't mind one."

She froze as she then turned and looked at him startled as she asked, "what?"

Riku looking at her told her seriously, "I said… I wouldn't mind…" For he was feeling embarrassed himself as he sat himself over closer to her, what'd caused this to come on?

Looking at him Nozomi blushed immensely red as she then said, "Um… okay then…" With that she leaned herself over to him careful not to move Cait sith too much and disturb his slumber.

Reaching with her arms she wrapped them around his back as she awkwardly put her head on his right shoulder, making her body lean out awkwardly as she still had Cait sith on her lap making it the most uncomfortable hug ever.

Feeling stupid she asked herself blushing madly red, 'What am I doing?' Riku in the midst of the hug himself though… wasn't satisfied for this wasn't a real hug.

So acting completely on impulse he moved his arms and then suddenly lifted her placing her on his lap making her blush like mad as she complained embarrassed beyond words for if anyone saw them like this-

"What're you doing stupid I'm-"

But then Riku interrupted her cross himself, "getting my hug!... So stop complaining…" He spoke as he moved his own arms around her back and then held her close to himself feeling her warm presence.

Nozomi over aware of herself and her position was still embarrassed to no degree because this was no way a hug shared with friends! But at the same time she felt that strange feeling once again pounding in her heart as she quickly forgot about it and then settled into holding him gently and tightly…

Cait sith in the meantime feeling the odd tossing and turning awoke from his slumber and as he did he looked up to see an intriguing sight occurring before him… an intense warm hug between old snowball and the lass…

Deciding to continue playing at napping he watched carefully as the events continued to happen between the two of them.

Feeling the strange emotion spreading to her cheeks Nozomi was blushing red as she felt strangely like she was melting as she felt her heart thump… Riku in the meantime himself couldn't explain this strange feeling inside himself either… though he knew inside he shouldn't be holding her like this… he couldn't help it…

But eventually all things have to come to end as Nozomi then spoke, "Riku… um… do you think this is long enough now?"

Startled himself Riku quickly let go of her as Nozomi then quickly moved herself off him looking cherry red still… the two of them then stared at each other for a couple of moments…. But then suddenly Riku spoke, "well um… I better tell the king what's going on, all right?"

With that Nozomi nodded quickly and with that she watched as he got up and then quickly ran inside the coliseum entrance as he opened the door and closed them quickly behind himself.

Staring after him for a few moments… Nozomi then looked down at the ground as she still felt Riku's warmth all over herself making her shudder… she then quietly held herself with her own arms basking in this strange feeling.

Cait sith in the meanwhile looked at her from her lap as he saw her hold herself tightly… but then as he watched he saw her open her eyes slightly as she then spoke aloud sadly, "Kairi… a princess of heart… one of the purest with no traces of darkness… how can I compare to that?" She thought to herself sadly as her heart was mixed with this also pained feeling…

Hi guys sorry this ones taken a while to come out hope you all like, kay Laters!