Disclaimer: All Characters Owned by Square Enix
Chapter 38: Light
"Beat," Sora closed his bedroom door behind him and leaned against it. "What made you come back?"
"I finished my treatment at the hospital," Beat responded before sitting down on the brunette's bed. "I'm a lot better now. I can even mention her name without feeling regret."
"Rhyme…" The brunette said her name.
"The death of Rhyme made me feel like there was nothing to live for," Beat said. "But after being at the hospital, they taught me that I need to enjoy life!"
Sora smiled. "That's good, Beat. I'm glad!"
"Y'know, once I started getting better…I couldn't help but think of you," A blush crept onto the blonde cheeks. "You're still quite a catch, you know that?"
"I'm not sure of that."
"You're so humble," Beat placed his hands on his knees. "I'm sorry for leaving you. I had no choice. I was becoming a harm to myself and pulling you down with me, I-"
Sora walked over to the bedside and hugged him. "It's okay," He said. "I made new friends once I got into high school, and now I think I've made some more since I've gotten on the blitzball team."
"Oh, so that's what you and Riku were talking about practicing for," Sora nodded. "You playing blitzball? I can't imagine that at all!"
"I'll let you know I'm actually a fielder!" Sora placed his hands on his hips as he defended himself.
Beat tried to suppress his laughter. "I was the one who always had to stick up for you when we were together!"
Sora gave a fake pout.
That was how he and blonde first met though. Beat saving him from a group of bullies.
"You were my hero."
After School – Blitzball Field
Sora held up his jersey in front of him, eyeing the color and pristine look of it. It was white with blue edges, the left of the chest area having a wave crest. The back had his number, twenty-five, and his surname above it.
"Hikari," Sora read the back of the shirt aloud, scratching the side of his forehead. "Coach, my last name is Hibari not Hikari."
Everyone else began to check theirs, making sure it was the right spelling.
"Give me that," Snow snatched the shirt from Sora's hands, examining it. "I guess that'll be your new surname."
"Hey, that's not fair," The brunette frowned. "I want to be recognized as myself, not Sora Hikari."
"You'll thank me later." The coach replied.
Aqua placed her hand on the boy's shoulders. "Don't worry Sora," She tried to comfort him. "Hikari has a better meaning than Hibari. It means 'light', while Hibari means 'skylark' or 'haughtiness'," The bluenette explained. "You'll be the light of the team!"
"Oh really," Sora furrowed his eyebrows, looking at Riku. "I'm sure the captain's surname isn't something cool." He murmured.
Riku heard the brunette and looked down at him saying, "It means 'wise'."
Sora hunched over. "Of course it does."
He felt Zack pat his back, Aqua moving aside. "Hey, hey. Last names don't mean much!"
"Says someone with a cool last name too!"
"This kid…" Zack gave a nervous smile.
Hearing the coach's whistle blow, they began to start practice.
"The light of the team huh," Sora thought, remembering Aqua's words. He looked over at Roxas. "Strife…that's his surname. It fits him perfectly, I wonder if it's a curse to have that last name. To live with strife forever."
"Quit staring." He heard Roxas say as he brushed past him to get to his side of the field.
Selphie appeared in front of him. "C'mon Sora," She smiled brightly. "You're on our team!"
Sora looked past her to see who 'our' team was. There was Zack, Rai, and Hayner, the other team consisting of Roxas, Riku, Aqua, Seifer, Tidus, and Wakka. The brunette's team went into a huddle.
"Okay," Selphie began. "Hayner, you be goalie. Zack and Rai will be defense and Sora and I will be fielders."
They all nodded in agreement.
On the other side of the field, the other team stood in a circle.
"What should we do?" Tidus asked.
"Call whatever spot you want." Riku told them.
"This coming from the captain?" Roxas murmured. He then quickly bit his lip, deciding it'd be best for him to not voice his comments when he saw the snow-head look down at him.
"Wakka you're goalie," It seemed the captain changed his mind. "Aqua, Seifer, and Tidus are defense."
The team began to split up to their positions.
"Hey, what about me?" Roxas asked, following behind Riku.
"You're a fielder," Riku looked at the other teams set up, noticing the brunette was standing on the middle line for the kick off. "You're going to start the game with Sora."
"Huh," Roxas looked at Riku surprised. "But I've never started one and-"
"Watch Sora's shoulders," The snow-head cut him off. "Sora isn't good at this, his moves are easily read. As long as you watch his shoulders, you'll see which way he's heading. You both have an equal agility level but you have something more ominous about you, which helps."
"Why is he helping me?"
"And I'm sorry about what I said." Riku said as he walked over to a spot in the field.
Roxas eyed the boy before going to the middle of the field for the faceoff with Sora. The brunette opened his mouth to say something to the blonde, but remembered their friendship was over.
"Get ready!" The coach yelled from the side of the field.
Sora and Roxas got into their stances, awaiting the whistle.
"I'm not sure if Riku made Roxas do the kick off with Sora just to be evil," Selphie thought as she waited. "Or because he didn't want to do it himself…"
"Watch his shoulders." The blonde concentrated.
The whistle sounded off, Roxas and Sora both jolting. Roxas watched Sora's right shoulder move and so he took for the left, getting the ball and rushing towards the goal.
"He got the ball!?" Selphie ran after Roxas, trying to keep up with him. She saw Riku from the corner of her eye running along the side of the field. "Where is Sora?"
"Even he…?!" Sora fell to his knees in the grass, hearing the whistle blow at him.
"Sora, get up right now!" Snow ordered.
The brunette slowly got up; watching as Roxas successfully passed the ball to Riku and the snow-head throwing the ball for a goal. Hayner missing the block.
Roxas put his hands on his knees, panting.
"Good job, Roxas!" Aqua said.
"Thanks." The blonde stood up, smiling lightly.
Riku walked over to Sora with a grin on his lips. "Maybe you should've practiced with me yesterday," He taunted. "That wouldn't have happened if you did."
Sora's face went from confused to angry in mere seconds. "If you're jealous of Beat you don't have to be," The brunette said sternly. "And it was raining anyway!"
"Hmph," The snow-heads grin fell. "In rain or shine you practice, or you won't get better."
Sora frowned, watching Riku walk away.
"No wonder he said we couldn't be in a relationship while on the team."
"Hey Roxy!" Sora heard Axel holler. He watched the blondes face light up as he ran over to the red-head and they began some small talk before Coach Villiers began to blow his whistle at Roxas and murmur something close to 'these kids get on my nerves'. The coach had brought them all in, having them stand in a line parallel to him.
"After watching you guys play that round I have a lot to say about your skills," He said as he paced back and forth, looking at every one of them in the eyes. "Especially you three," Snow held out three fingers pointing to Sora, Riku, and Roxas. "I know we split the team into two teams to practice with but don't work against each other!" He noticed Riku look down at the grass and quickly grabbed the boys chin with his hand. "Don't think I didn't notice you talking to Roxas before the game started, Satoshi! We've talked about this!" Riku shook his face out of the coach's hand. "Your skills may be great, but you've been acting ridiculously childish! Speaking of childish, you two," He eyed Sora and Roxas. "No fighting on this team. Like I said, a team is supposed to work together not against. I don't care if your friends, but on this team you sure as hell have to act like it. And Sora, your spot is in danger of being given to Roxas by the way I've seen you play. I see something in you, but you're not showing it. Train harder, and when the other team gets the ball that doesn't mean you give up!" Sora clenched his fists at his sides. "Selphie, where did your spunk go? You used to be one of the most intimidating players on the team," The girl smiled. "But you've become too nice. Get back to your old conniving self. Hayner, even though you're a sub player you still need to be able to do a good job in whichever position you get subbed for. Block or guard with all your effort, not halfheartedly. Aqua…I wish I could say there's something wrong with the way you play, but you're doing a fairly good job! Same with the rest of you!" He saw them all grin. "Now, get back on the field and do another practice round. Don't forget what I told you."
"If I'm going to be the light of the team, I have to work harder," Sora thought as he walked into the field with the rest of his team mates. "I can't stand in anyone's shadow, especially not Riku's!"
The brunette remembered the night of the meteor shower when he was stuck with Riku in the shed.
"At least I don't forget about my friends!" Sora yelled angrily. Riku stopped laughing.
"What do you mean?" He asked, his tone of voice softening.
"Ever since you joined the Blitzball team you've treated everyone else like they're nothing," Sora explained. "I bet if I were to become a 'star' like you, I wouldn't treat anyone any less!"
"Not like you could become anything close to me anyway." Riku responded.
"You know what," Sora stood up. "I will! I'll try out for that spot on the blitzball team like Selphie had wanted me to and I'll become just as good as you or even better!"
"Do you really think you, a boy with two left feet, could make it onto a blitzball team?!" Riku laughed at the thought.
"Yes!" Sora was confident.
"Good luck with that." Riku grinned.
Sora stood at the middle line with Roxas once again as his opponent.
"Kairi, Axel, Hayner, Pence, Olette…Roxas," He heard the coach tell them to get ready. "I haven't forgotten about you!"
Reviews are loved~
And just in case anyone is wondering
Uniform #s
Riku – 3 Satoshi
Selphie – 12 Tilmitt
Sora – 25 Hikari
Tidus – 32 Wakes
Zack – 23 Fair
Seifer – 18 Almasy
Rai – 9 Okomono
Wakka – 16 Besaid
Roxas – 13 Strife
Hayner – 5 Finnlet
Aqua – 8 Yano
UNIFORMS
The uniforms look similar to Soccer uniforms. Destiny Waves High School's uniform is White with light Blue edges (Their school colors are White and light Blue). On the left chest is their high schools Wave Crest, on the back is their number (Numbers are insignificant, only allow people to identify the players) as well as the players Surname.