Chapter 41: The Traverse Town Flames Part I
"Sephiroth, I want you to lead this team to victory." A woman with pink rose colored hair said to the teen. She was the team's coach.
Sephiroth began to pull his hair up into a ponytail, not wanting it to get in the way as he played against his 'favorite' opponents. "Coach Farron, or should I call you Lightning while near the field you once earned such a name," He said. Lightning crossed her arms against her hips, not giving an answer. "This team will be victorious this time, I can promise you that."
"Don't promise something that can easily be broken," Lightning scolded. "The brunette boy-"
"You mean Sora," Sephiroth gave a sly grin. "The one they exaggeratingly claim runs as fast as light. I've read his speed is faster than that of yours, the one who ran as fast as lightning struck."
"Your cockiness will not lead you anywhere close to victory Seph," Lightning headed towards the exit door of the girls locker room. Opening the door she saw the rest of the team waiting. "Go line up inside. The game starts in about ten minutes." She watched them get inside before leaving to the field.
"Hands in everyone!" Selphie yelled excitingly. The girl was pumped up for her match against their schools rival. The team put their hands in the middle of the circle, courageous grins on their faces.
"To all the opponents we've defeated!" Roxas started.
"To the new friends we've made!" Aqua said. They were going around in a circle. This was something they had started doing after the third game they won. The bond they had made as a team had grown stronger, relying on each other in their games, helping and cheering each other on.
"To the conflicts we've all persevered through!" Selphie contributed.
"To the coach who set us all straight, y'know!" Rai said. Snow grinned from beside them.
"To the courage we've all built!" Hayner said.
"To the benchers who know how to play a kick-ass game!" Seifer looked down at Hayner with a grin.
"To the fans in the bleachers who've cheered us on since the beginning!" Zack smiled.
"To the early morning practices that we've all hated!" Tidus yelled, the coach now glaring at the boy.
"To the fun we've all had ya!" Wakka said.
"To the Traverse Town Flames, who will forever be crushed by our mighty waves!" Riku said.
"To the captain," Sora looked at up Riku before looking back at his team mates. "And to us!"
"TO US!" The cheered in unison, throwing their hands up in the air.
"Alright, alright everyone," Snow calmed down his team. "Get lined up!"
The team followed their coach's orders, lining up in front of the exit door. The line had went; Riku, Selphie, Sora, Zack, Tidus, Seifer, Rai, Wakka, Hayner, Aqua, and Roxas. They stood silently awaiting the beep.
"So, are the games always this crowded?" Isa asked Kairi, the girl leaning on his shoulder.
"They've always been crowded, but never this much!" Kairi responded. She wiped a bit of sweat from her forehead, the larger crowd making the area hotter than it actually was.
"I can't wait to see this game," Pence said. "I wonder how much the Flames have improved. I mean if our schools team got even stronger, theirs would have most likely gone the same route!"
"Maybe," Olette commented. "With Sora on the team though, I believe that they'll be able to win this game easy."
"But in the last game, Riku and Selphie were the ones who triumphed." Zexion said.
Olette batted her eyelashes. "Did you just say more than five words?!"
Zexion smiled, his cheeks turning pink. "I do talk, other than what most of you seem to believe."
"What I want to know is where's Larxene and Axel?!" Demyx looked around the bleachers and the ground area near some of the stands for the redhead and blonde.
Axel and Larxene were taking a walk away from the school, the sun just setting. "Where are you bringing me to?" The redhead asked, following behind Larxene with his hands in his pockets. The girl didn't answer. "Roxas might get mad at me if I miss this game."
"Who gives a fuck about Roxas!?" The blonde snapped. She turned to face Axel, looking at him angrily.
"Um, let's see…," Axel put his finger to his temple, as if thinking. "Oh yeah! Me."
Larxene growled, her fingers turning into fists at her sides. "I'm better for you, Axel! You know it!"
"What are you talking about?" Axel furrowed his brows, looking at the girl who seemed as if she was about to combust.
"All this time, I thought that you and Roxas would never be anything! I hoped that you and he would never be anything! I even told you to rape him, just so I'd be satisfied to know that he would never want to see your face again after that!"
"What a twisted girl."
"So you brought me out here to confess?"
"Of course," Larxene retorted. "I can't stand to see you with someone like him at your side anymore! You wanting him disgusts me! I can offer you so much more. I can hook you up with the drugs and cigarettes that you like. I don't even care if you smoke like he does! And I can give you as much sex as you want! And-"
Axel put his hands out in front of him. "You're crazy, end of story," He told her. "You and I both know that I don't take any drugs anymore. Whether or not it's because of Roxas doesn't matter. Yeah, they're fun but I need to focus on things more permanent than that. I'm turning seventeen in a couple of months; I can't continue to play games. And as for sex from you: No thank you."
The red head turned around, ready to leave and go to the game.
"If you don't break up with Roxas and date me," Larxene began to threaten. "I'll kill myself!"
Axel bit his lip.
"Good riddance," he said. "Just stay away from Roxas and I, dead or alive."
Larxene shook her head in disbelief, falling to her knees. She cried hysterically.
The sound went off and Riku pushed the door open, his team following behind him. The Flames had come out as well, walking to the field with them simultaneously.
"And here it is everyone," The announcer said. "The players you've been waiting to see are heading to the field!"
Snow stood on the sidelines with his hands held in front of him. Lightning stood beside him.
"So, Claire," He said, keeping his eyes on the field as he watched his team players line up parallel to their opponents. "How's Traverse Town?"
"You haven't seen me in a year and that's all you have to ask me," Lightning crossed her arms against her chest, ginning. "It's still hard for me to see how Serah likes you."
"Don't you remember the old days, when we would play on this field," Snow reminisced. "Huh, Lightning?!"
"Of course I do," The woman responded. "Snow the Valiant."
"Well, I advise you get ready for your team to lose," Snow began to rub his hands together. "Just like last year!"
"Oh quit it!"
Riku stood facing Sephiroth, his grin intimidating. "Riku," He said. "My, how much you've grown in a year." He licked his lips. "And I see Selphie's blossomed a lot as well."
"Creep." Selphie retorted, not taking her eyes off Genesis, who stood before her.
"So you're Light." Marluxia stared down the brunette. "You're so tiny. A kid like you won't last two minutes on a field against us."
"Your cousin is so hot, I could melt!" Xion whispered next to Hope, whose eyebrow began to twitch.
"Quite a good looking man," Tidus jokingly responded. "I agree!"
Terra looked at Roxas from the corners of his eyes. "So that's him…Ven's twin." He remembered when Ven had told about his said twin, Terra at first not believing him until he had showed him many photographs of the two together.
'But you can't tell anyone about him, okay? Not until after Blitzball season.' Ventus' words rung in his head.
From what Ventus had told Terra about Roxas, Terra couldn't help but feel a twinge of hatred towards the boy. Ventus was no Rapunzel. He was too sweet to be kept away and hidden.
He quickly averted his eyes when he saw Roxas' eyes look back at him.
"Watch out," Zack caught Terra's attention. "That blondie's taken!"
Terra's eyes went wide as he blushed. "It's not like that!"
"I'm just messing around!" Zack winked.
The players all turned to face their sides of the field, their heads held in the air. They began to walk, giving high fives. Roxas noticed the goalie and the defense players giving him surprising looks. "They probably think I'm Ventus." He sighed, putting his hand down when the line ended.
The Waves huddled together.
"Is there anything about this team we should know?" Aqua asked.
"Fujioka, number 0," Riku answered, referring to Sephiroth Fuijoka. "He possesses a special talent."
Sora looked up at Riku, interested in what it was Sephiroth was able to do. His eyes darted to the side of him when he heard Selphie begin to talk.
"He's able to predict movements," She said. "It's always as if he's three steps ahead of you."
"How did you guys win last year then?" Hayner asked.
"I was able to produce a strategy that confused his ability," Riku said. "However, it was used towards the end of the game to score the last point. If it had been used before, Sephiroth would have been able to figure it out after doing it two times."
The buzzer rang, alerting the team mates to get into place. "Just play like normal for now guys," Riku told them. "And pay close attention."
"And it's time to start this game!" The announcer exclaimed.
The team stood in their normal formation; Rai and Seifer in front of the goal on opposite sides with Sora and Selphie standing a couple yards ahead of them. Zack and Tidus were close to the middle line, ready to get onto defense if Riku got the ball.
"I'm not surprised." Riku grinned, seeing Sephiroth approach the middle line.
"Hmm, why don't you send the little one up here," Sephiroth said, referring to Sora. "I would love to see how well he plays."
"You'll be introduced to him later." Riku got into position, Sephiroth following suit. The whistle blew, the boys struggling for the ball from each other.
"I've never seen that happen…" Sora thought, watching the two's feet maneuver the ball back and forth, fighting to get away with it.
"And the two struggle for the ball!" The announcer yelled.
He saw Selphie quickly run in, stealing the ball from what ended up being Riku and running it to the other side of the field. Tidus and Zack had caught up with her, blocking the entrance of the two other fielders of the Flames.
Selphie kicked the ball in through the goal post.
"And the first point of the game has been made by the Waves!" The announcer said.
"That was a little too easy," Selphie thought, jogging back on over to her side of the field. "They must be planning something." She looked over at Sora, who noticed her watching and gave her a smile. She smiled back.
The whistle blew again, Sephiroth taking the ball this time without the struggle he and Riku had earlier. Sora, as well as everyone else, began to run after him for multiple purposes. The brunette's purpose was to steal the ball and bring it back towards the other side of the field with the help of his other team mates, but someone from the Flames made their way in front of him. He was about the same height as him, and his defense was superb.
"He has the same eyes as Riku," Sora thought, he and the boy glaring at each other while Sora was trying to get past. "If only I was allowed to use my speed during the beginning of the game, I would be able to get past this guy with no problem!"
Sora, by the captain's demand, wasn't allowed to use his full agility until towards the middle or end of the game. Unless they were in dire need of it, that is. The reasoning behind this was that Sora's stamina would tire out if he used it for a full game, just like what had happened in the second team they had played against after the Tiger Lilies.
Sephiroth had passed the ball over to Genesis, who dribbled it over to the goal. Wakka caught the ball, stopping it from going through their goal post. Sephiroth looked behind him. "Riku is the farthest back," He thought. "From watching their other games, Wakka is most likely to toss it to the person closest to the other team's side of the field."
"Guys, sorry I'm here," Axel joined his friends in the bleachers. "Anything interesting happen so far?"
"Nope," Pence answered. "The Flames haven't even scored anything yet, and they're not putting up a good game."
"I thought Larxene was with you?" Demyx said.
"I don't think she's coming. She wasn't feeling too well."
Sephiroth licked his lips seeing Wakka throw the ball. "Exactly as I predicted." He intercepted the toss, throwing it back toward the Waves goal post where Genesis caught it. From there he tossed it to Marluxia was able to successfully hit it in.
"Stop getting in my way!" Sora pouted, talking to the boy who had blocked him from going anywhere the entire time.
"I can't," The boy said in a serious tone. "It's kind of my job."
"Then get in someone else's way!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
"Sora," Riku said. It seemed that in the time the two were arguing Riku had made his way over to them. "I want you to take the center. I'm switching with you."
"Okay," Sora agreed. "But just watch out for this guy. He wasn't letting me get anywhere."
Riku looked over to the person Sora was referring to. "Hope?"
"Hi," Hope smiled. "Cousin!"
"You two are related?!"
"Yeah," Riku said before giving Sora a small nudge. "Now go. You too Hope, get on your side of the field."
The boys gave each other a glare before getting to where they were supposed to be.
"So I see he finally sent you!" Sephiroth looked like an animal who had finally found its prey.
"I heard that you're able to predict movements," Sora said. "So this must be where you analyze mine."
"Hmph," the whistle blew and the two boys kicked it with equal force at the same time, making it shoot up into the air. Sephiroth grabbed Sora by the wrist, tight enough to make the boy feel a slight pain. "I've already done that from watching your previous games. I know of your ability, so I'm going to tell you this now. Don't use it, or you'll definitely regret it." He threw the brunette to the ground behind him.
Sora bit his lip, getting up quick enough to snatch the ball before Sephiroth. Running towards his side with the ball huddled in his chest. Riku ran towards the other team's side, while Sora passed the ball to Selphie who began running.
Marluxia ran towards Selphie, ramming into her before the defense could catch up to her. She felt, the ball coming out of her grip as she rolled in the grass.
Zack went to the ball. "Riku!" He yelled before kicking it as hard as he could towards the other side of the field.
"Is he allowed to do that?" Isa asked, his eyebrows raised in curiosity.
"There's nothing about it in the rules." Pence responded.
Riku caught the ball, the defense for the Flames rushing after him. He made the throw, getting it through the goal.
Selphie cursed under her breath, getting up. She felt a hand grab her arm.
"You okay?" Zack asked.
"Not until I hit that pink haired flower boy back!" Selphie huffed. She looked at the clock. "Five minutes left until the end of this first round."
"Seph," Marluxia went up to his captain. "Get Hikari out of the game before the end of this round. We can't risk-"
"Don't worry Marly," Sephiroth waved him off. "If he uses his ability, I'll handle him easy."
Marluxia scoffed and walked into his position.
The first round of the game played on for the last five minutes, the buzzer signaling their break time. The scores were five to four. "I thought you said these guys were difficult, Riku." Sora took a sip of his water.
"They are," The snow-head replied. "They're not playing like usual."
"They're definitely holding back ya?" Wakka said.
"Holding back," Hayner grinned. "Did you not see Selphie's face just eat fake grass five minutes ago?!"
Selphie grabbed Hayner by the ear. "Shut up bencher!" Hayner winced in pain, beginning to whine an apology for her to let go.
"They must be waiting for something." Roxas said.
"Exactly," Riku crossed his arms. "But the question is what." The buzzer rang, signaling for them to get back on the field. "Change the formation to the star one. You'll be behind me as the point of the star, Sora. Selphie's in the middle."
Sora and Selphie nodded, getting to the positions on the field.
"I guess Sephiroth has had enough of being center." Riku saw Genesis make his way to the center line.
"Long time no see, Satoshi." Genesis grinned.
"What are you guys planning?" The snow-head was blunt.
"Now now, Satoshi," Genesis snickered. "We're just playing a normal game of blitzball here."
Riku squinted his eyes at the ginger. He got into position, waiting for the whistle. Once it blew he was successful in getting the ball, running with Sora beside him. Selphie appeared behind the two with Zack and Tidus.
"C'mon Riku," Sephiroth watched. "Pass the ball to Sora."
Riku did just so, passing the ball to the brunette and falling behind the pack. Sora sped up, seeing Marluxia and Genesis get near him and his defense.
"Look, Sora's finally putting his agility into play!" Olette said excitingly.
"I guess he just doesn't listen," Sephiroth began to run. "If Genesis and Marly keep chasing him in that pattern, the little cherub should end up about…here!" The silverette stopped his pace and put his foot out.
Sora tripped. He felt himself fly through the air and moments later tumble into the grass. He tried to get up, but felt a sharp stinging pain at his ankle and soon he felt warm liquid seep into the fabric of his calf high socks.
Sephiroth walked up to him, a sly grin on his face, he bent down and put his lips near Sora's ear. "How's your limelight now?" He asked tauntingly.
"It seems something is going on with the players, folks." The announcer stopped the clock, realizing the ball was being ignored at this moment and he didn't want to waste game time.
"Get away from him!" Riku grabbed hold of the back of Sephiroth's uniform, pulling him away. Sephiroth, scrambling, stood.
"Part one of plan A, complete." Tifa thought. She honestly felt sorry for the boy, but their plan had been to get Sora out of the game permanently before making any good plays.
"You okay, brudda?" Wakka knelt down beside Sora, the rest of his team circling around him.
"Are we allowed to go onto the field," Aqua asked. "The clock's stopped."
"I'm going to beat the shit out of the Sephiroth guy!" Roxas said infuriated, ready to move.
"I second that!" Hayner put his fist in his hand.
"You three are going nowhere," The Coach told them. "Stay here." He went over to the paramedics who began to prepare themselves to get Sora off the field.
"It hurts," The brunette brought himself up to his knees, reaching for his ankle. "And I can't move it." His breathing hitched.
A growl emitted from Riku, he shoved Sephiroth by his shoulders. "Fuck you!"
"Oh, did I make you mad Riku baby?" Sephiroth joked, his grin never disappearing.
Riku balled his hand into a fist, ready to go.
"Riku, stop," Snow ordered, the paramedics holding a stretcher to put Sora on. "Now is not the time. When the timer starts again, that is the time."
The snow-head bit his lip, giving Sephiroth one last glare before looking at the brunette who was lifted onto the stretcher. "We're going to have to take him to the hospital," One of the men said. "His ankle is broken pretty badly."
"Alright." Snow nodded, his lips pushed together tightly. He was just as angry as Riku. "How could Claire have such a dirty player on her team?"
After seconds of watching the brunette being taken off, he made a decision. "Selphie," He called the girls name. She looked over to him. "For the rest of this game, you're captain. I'm going with Sora to the hospital."
"What!?" Selphie's brows rose.
"Riku, you can't be serious." Snow said concerned.
"I am," Riku sighed. "Put Roxas on the field in place of me, Aqua in place of Sora. Roxas is pretty keen; he'll give good help in determining a strategy. Aqua is a well-balanced player."
"But what if we need you Riku?" Tidus frowned.
"You're the one who helped us win this match every year." Seifer said.
"I'm not leaving him," Riku told them. "You guys will be fine. I believe in you." He grinned before running over to the medics, them letting him into the ambulance.
"Shouldn't you be on the field," One of the medics asked him. "You're a star player, as well as the captain!"
"I belong here," The snow head responded. "With this clumsy idiot."
"I can hear you, y'know!" Sora jumped, he then flinched in pain.
"Try not to move so much." A female medic told him.
"I can't believe it," The announcer exclaimed, many whispers were emitting from the bleachers. "Riku Satoshi, the captain of the Waves, has left the field!"
"Looks like we killed to birds with one stone huh?" Marluxia said.
"Aqua, Roxas," Snow pointed his thumb back towards the field. "Get onto the field."
"How come I'm always left on the bench?" Hayner whined, watching the two substitute fielders make their way onto the field.
"WOOO GO ROXY!" Axel yelled, flailing his arms from side to side. Roxas spotted the redhead and stuck out his tongue, putting his hand in an 'L' shape on his forehead.
"So we're finally able to attend one of his games and he doesn't even give a good one." Yazoo sighed, hunching over in the stands.
"Who is that little kid anyway," Kadaj asked. "His boyfriend?"
"Hmph, you really think our baby brother could get a boyfriend?" Yazoo snickered.
"Considering he doesn't have the personality of you two," Loz commented. "It wouldn't be that surprising."
"Roxas you can be center," Selphie quickly said. "A-and Aqua…u-um…you can…y-you-"
"When the whistle blows get halfway near their goal." Roxas told her, realizing Selphie was too nervous to think of something. She gave a smile that said 'thank you'.
Roxas went to the middle line, the ball set up.
Sora and Riku arrived at the hospital, the paramedics getting Sora into a room. They helped him onto the bed before leaving the room. "Riku, you should've stayed." The brunette looked at the cloth that was bandaged to his ankle to suppress the bleeding.
Riku sat down in a chair beside the bed. "It would've killed me if I did. This is one of the reasons why you shouldn't fall for your team mates."
"I'm sorry for getting hurt…" Sora scrunched the white hospital bed sheets in between his fingers. Riku leaned in and gave the brunette a kiss on the cheek. "It's not your fault," He grabbed on to Sora's hand. "Seph is able to predict your future movements. It was something he forced himself to develop in order to win against me. He wasn't successful last year though."
"Mm, Riku," Sora said. "Can you tell me more of your memories of the boy you knew?"
Riku batted his eyelashes because grinning playfully. "Sure you won't get jealous?"
"I promise!" It's not like he could get jealous of himself.
"There was this one night that I was looking up at the stars with him at the park," Riku explained. "It was something we would do often, but this night was a bit different. He had been acting weird all day, and although I was wondering why I decided it was okay not to ask. That night was when he first told me he liked me, but he was really confused about why. So I had explained to him that he could like anyone he wants to, and gave him a kiss like this," Riku leaned in and kissed the brunette. "And sai-mm."
"'I like you too.' " Sora had gone in again, continuing to kiss the snow-head. Riku was usually the one to initiate kissing like this during their tutoring sessions. The boys had found it increasingly hard to keep away from each other for long periods of time.
"Eh hm," They heard a man clear his throat and quickly stopped, their cheeks turning red in embarrassment. "I'm Dr. Valentine, and I'll be taking a look at your ankle."
"O-okay!" The brunette smiled.
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