A/N I know this is supposed to be all cute and fluffy, but there’s a little angst in this chapter. Life can’t be cute and fluffy all the time, right?
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Kairi threw her backpack on the kitchen table, her thoughts on what she and Roxas had been talking about. Both had exchanged their IM Id’s and agreed to get online later today to talk with Kairi’s friends.
Cloud walked pass Kairi, noticing the far off look in her eyes. "What’s on you mind, squirt?"
Kairi jumped, turning to Cloud. Kairi pondered about telling Cloud; should she?
"It’s very secret; can I trust you," she just had to ask?
"Of course."
Kairi quickly went over everything she knew; when she finished, she looked at Cloud with wide eyes, "well?"
"That’s some story. Wow," Cloud shook his head, "widdle biddy Sora is growing up."
"Act your age, Cloud. What about Riku; do you think he’ll turn against Sora?"
Cloud didn’t know Riku too well, but he really couldn’t see the kid hating Sora. "I don’t think so, Kairi. Riku may not return the feelings, but he’d never hate his best friend."
Kairi smiled, feeling revealed, "good. For Sora’s sake, I really hope Riku will like him."
Cloud’s face clouded over, "I do too. It’s really hard to care so much for someone, when they don’t feel the same way."
"Oh, Cloud," Kairi went to her brother, "have you asked this person, if they don’t feel the same way?"
"What makes you think I was meaning me?"
"I’m your sister. I know things. Please tell me about it; talking helps."
Cloud sighed, ruffling Kairi’s hair, "you guys always tease me . . . about having a crush on . . . Squall . . . it’s not a mere crush though."
"You really like him, huh?"
"Yeah, but it’s wrong . . . "
"Wait . . . what, why is it wrong?"
Cloud smiled, "I didn’t mean it’s wrong because we’re both guys; rather I’m twenty-one and he’s seventeen."
"Pfft, so what; that’s only four years."
"Yes, but I’m a legal adult and he’s still a teenager, it would be illegal for us to be together."
"Only if you’re having sex."
"KAIRI!" Cloud blushed.
"What? I’m not a little kid anymore, I know things, shesh, I’m thirteen. And besides, I seem to remember that Squall’s birthday; his eighteenth birthday is coming up."
"Yeah, but still; Squall would never . . . "
"Back to my earlier question: Have you asked him? No, you have not, so how can you know? Get off your lazy, car pooling butt and go over to his house and socialize."
"Aye, aye!" Cloud sighed, "I guess I can swing by, Squall and I are friends, after all, so it wouldn’t seem to strange."
"That’s the spirit, now go!"
Red has signed on, ran across Kairi’s outdated computer screen, as she signed on. She looked at her buddy list, smiling wide when she saw that everyone she wanted to talk to was on, plus her new friend Roxas.
Red invites Rox, Blitz, Sky-blue, NinjaWonder, and SuperHyper to a private conference.
Kairi tapped her fingers on the arm of her computer chair, hoping the others were at their computer desk. Her face lit up, as a message appeared on the screen.
Blitz: Waz up Kairi?
Sky-Blue: You’re lucky, I was just about to take a shower. What’s going on?
Rox: Thanks for the invite, Kairi. Who’s everyone?
Kairi smiled, typing fast.
Red: Let’s wait for the others; hopefully they’ll be on-------
NinjaWonder: Yo!
Red: ...Soon. Speak of one of the devils. Hey, Yuffie.
NinjaWonder: Howdy K, waz goin on?
Red: Just a sec. SELPHIE ARE YOU ON?
SuperHyper: Eeep, I’m here, don’t shout.
Kairi laughed, rolling her eyes.
Red: Selphie don’t be a lurker, it’s creepy.
SuperHyper+Sticks out tongue+ You ain’t my momma; you can’t tell me what to do.
Red: Well thank goodness for that. If I was your momma, I would have my hand full with your bratty sisters.
SuperHyper: HEY! I HAVE TAKEN OVER THE COMPUTER. THIS IS SELPHIE’S BRATTY SISTER. You’re a big meany head.
Kairi rolled her eyes. That for sure sounded like Nona, Selphie’s six-year-old sister. The girl was a mega wizkid, but annoying nonetheless.
Red: Get off, let Selphie back on.
Sky-Blue: Nona, be a dear and give the computer back to Selphie.
SuperHyper: Okay Tidie.
SuperHyper: Gah, Sorry everyone. Nona was reading over my shoulders. She’s gone now, so Kairi can tell us why she gathered us.
Red: First off, everyone say hi to Rox Aka Roxas, he was the boy I was dancing with in gym class. Roxas meet my friends, don’t worry they don’t bite.
Sky-Blue: Hard . . . haha, JK. I’m Tidus, the blond boy . . . you may of noticed me, dancing with a redhead boy in class.
Blitz: Yeah me. Names Wakka.
NinjaWonder: I’m Yuffie! Tall, dark, mysterious eighth grader.
SuperHyper: Rolls eyes Yeah right. I go by Selphie . . . or Selph. I was the brown haired girl in the yellow sundress.
Rox: Hey all. Snickers So Wakka, the world wants know, is Tidus a good dancer?
A few minutes later . . .
Rox: Well?
Blitz: I don’t have anyone to compare him to . . . but yeah, he did okay. At least he didn’t step on my toes, like someone.
Red: Don’t make fun of Sora. He’s not here to defend himself, anyways back to why I invited you all in this chat. What I have to talk about is too big for me to tell you over IM, so can you all meet me in the secret place? Oh and don’t tell anyone!
Rox?Huh?
Red: Don’t worry Roxas, I’ll tell you where it’s at.
Blitz: Sounds good, I’ll be there.
Sky-Blue: Me too!
NinjaWonder: ten-four, I’ll be there. Exactly where is there?
SuperHyper: You’ve got me excited. I wonder what’s going on. I’ll be there for sure. Yuffie I’ll meet you at your place, then we can go together.
NinjaWonder: Thanks. When should we meet you, Kairi?
Red: Meet me at ten on Saturday morning.
It’s a great day for a walk. That’s what Sora had thought after he got home from school. He was now eating his words. It was not a good day for a walk; at least not for Sora.
Sora looked behind him, a panicked look crossing his face. The fiend, who had started to chase him, was closing in; an arms span away. It just had to but to reach out and it’d have Sora in it’s grasp. Sora panted as he ran, feeling his muscles twitching in pain from running so long and hard.
His thoughts had been in the clouds; thinking about none other then Riku, when the monster jumped out at him and started to chase him.
"What’s it doing here anyway,"Sora spoke out loud, "the islands were always so peaceful?" He ran and ran, knowing that soon, he’d be all ran out. He was so out of breath and exhaustion would surly make him fall over.
The fiend snarled, knowing it would soon have it’s pry. It could sense that Sora was weakening. Soon victory would be his.
Hearing the snarl, Sora gulped, looking behind him to see how close the fiend was. This would prove to be an almost fatal mistake. In turning around, Sora didn’t notice the large tree branch that littered the ground in his path. His foot got tangled under the branch and he fell with a painful crunch as something broke. Sora gasped in pain, grabbing his broken ankle. He soon forgot about the throbs of pain; he had other pressing matters on hand.
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A blood curdling scream sounded; it could be heard throughout the island. People poked their heads out of their houses, kids stopped playing and one boy felt his blood run cold. He knew that voice.
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Riku paled, jumping at the sound. "Sora!"
Sephiroth looked at his younger brother, concern on his face, "you sure?"
Riku nodded, tears in his eyes, "I’ll always know Sora’s voice."
Sephiroth nodded and he and Riku took off running to where the voice had came from. On their way they ran into Wakka and Tidus who had also realized that the yell had came from Sora.
"Which way," Riku asked, his eyes frantically darting in every which direction, looking for any sign of Sora?
The redhead ran a hand through his hair, feeling his heartbeat race in worry, "that way," he said pointing. Wakka didn’t wait for the others and took off running for the spot he had pointed out. The others were soon hot on his hills.
"SORA!" Riku screamed, looking around. He didn’t see the boy anywhere.
"SORA!" Tidus yelled, freely crying for his friend.
Wakka sighed, going over to Tidus, pulling him into a hug, "I’m sure he’ll be fine."
"Where is he," Riku yelled, stomping the ground in anger? "The scream came from here."
Everyone nodded, they were all sure that it had.
Putting a hand out, to shush anyone who was about the speak, Sephiroth pointed to something on the ground, his hand trembling.
Everyone turned to look. Riku gasped, tears coming to his eyes; Tidus whimpered, clutching Wakka tightly; and Wakka lowered his eyes, praying that everything would be okay.
"No body, just blood," Sephiroth looked at the blood that stained the sand, noticing something. He bent down picking up a silver necklace. "Sora’s?"
Riku nodded, taking it from Sephiroth"Yes, it was a birthday present from his mom." Riku smiled, "Sora always complained that it was too girly for a guy to wear a locket, but I know he loved it. It has a key, and he keeps a special picture inside. He won’t let anyone see what the picture is."
"A trail," Tidus’ weak voice spoke up. "There’s a trial of blood. Whatever attacked him dragged him," Tidus pointed to a cluster of trees, "behind those trees."
Sephiroth, who had just come from training still had his sword, "you guys stay here; who know’s what attacked him."
"NO WAY," Riku yelled, "Sora’s my friend; I’m going too."
Tidus and Wakka both nodded; Tidus was still clutching Wakka. "We’re coming too," Tidus said, his voice choked up with worry.
Sighing, Sephiroth nodded, "okay, but keep behind me; you don’t have anything to defend yourselves with."
Nodding, everyone followed Sephiroth as he started to walk to the trees; where the blood trail lead.
BTW, the first scene with Kairi and Cloud talking wasn't in the fic at first, but I decided we needed something before Kairi’s IM conversation...and more Cloud never hurts, right?
Chapter 11