Fan Fiction ❯ Tides of Fire ❯ Dealing with Dreams and Scrutiny ( Chapter 3 )

AN: And of course, I don't own stuff, but... whatever. You know there's more, so let's get this going, okay? I hope you all like it and will continue to like it! ^^ Please enjoy!

Tides of Fire

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Chapter Three

He was walked in a never-ending darkness, black surrounding him and forbidding him from seeing -- though sounds were not deafened.

All around him, there was nothingness. He couldn't see a thing. It was like he was walking around with his eyes closed, using only his ears and other senses to help him through. So he did. He walked for minutes on end, his destination unknown and path unset.

Oh how this went on for what seemed forever until a dull light seemed to come into his vision. It was at first a small dot, then a growing blur, as it came toward him in a slow, steady pace. He felt no need to rush toward it as in fact they were approaching each other and would meet eventually.

He sighed, knowing this fact. At last, the darkness would cease and he would welcome the light with open arms. He didn't want to stay in the pit of darkness forever, and this feeling or warmth was all he needed for comfort in the dark abyss.

Smiling slightly, Riku reached out to touch the light, grasping what seemed to be another hand. Though he didn't know whom this hand belonged to, he held on tightly, never wanting to let go. He reached out with his other hand, grasping yet another of whoever's was in the light.

They -- he or she -- pulled him through, the blinding white light hiding their features from his eyes. But it was of no matter to him. As long as he was getting away from the darkness, he was fine. But... curiosity was always a fault.

"Who are you...?" he whispered.

The hand that held his lightly squeezed their grip, a reassuring feel traveling to the silver-haired boy.

"Speak...please." He wanted to know the name of his guide(s). He squinted, so see if he could make out a shape, and saw a faint outline of a head. They were shaking their head, refusing to reveal their identity. "Please..." He closed his eyes this time, as if it would help him figure out who this person was, or convince them to tell him.

But no, they did not. Silence kept and hovered between them, Riku still with his eyes closed. He could not find the reason to open them, nor the strength. He let himself be guided, trusting these hands to lead him to safety.

And it wasn't before long that the light that surrounded his savior engulfed him. Opening his eyes marginally, he caught the faint image of a smile, before his eyes slid close again, this time in sudden exhaustion. He started to drift into a kind of slumber, the last thing he remembered being that of arms circling him, hugging him close.

Turquoise eyes fluttered open, staring up to a wood ceiling. With a sigh, the owners to those eyes sat up, brushing himself off.

The corner of his mouth curled upwards. He knew he hadn't slept long, but that dream seemed to last for eternity. At first it seemed as if he would forever float in the darkness, but when that light came and carried him away, he was happy and eternally glad. The dark held a cold and emptiness that chilled his heart and made him want to cower in fright or scream in fear. The light, though, surrounded that mysterious person(s), was like the happiest day ever. There was no cold, there was no emptiness; only warmth filled him. The hands that guided him, the arms that circled him, all were comforting. He didn't know the owner of these arms that held him, these hands that guided him, but he was grateful. If he had not reached out to them, he would still be in the darkness, drowning in the pain and cold and emptiness.

Sighing, he sat up, brushing himself off. He wore the costume for his part in the play, having put it on before he fell asleep. His costume was formal clothing of foreign land, coming in layers. There was a dark band around his forehead, hiding partially under his bangs while the rest of his hair cascaded about his shoulders, no lock tucked behind his ears. He wore a black shirt with long sleeves that fell over his hands, part of the sleeve extending to cover his thumbs like a one-fingered glove while the rest of it was snug around his arm, almost tight around the muscles in his arm. His black shirt tucked into black pants that widened slightly to admit his black boots through, a slight heel to them that was new to Riku. But moreover, there was a robe over the black ensemble. There were no sleeves to his 'robe', stopping at his shoulders where the fabric was stiffer than the rest, acting like shoulder guards. The entire robe over lapped, but from just below the waist to the ankle where the robe stopped, there was a large cut on both sides of the robe, making movement easier. And all along the cut of the robe, the edge, and more was a thin line of green fabric, almost matching the green hint in his eyes. But from the his right shoulder to the rim of the skirt of the robe, there was a large stripe of silver that was slightly duller than his hair, making his silver locks stand out like a halo. Around his waist was a cloth belt that should've been used around his pants, but instead over his robe. It wrapped over his left shoulder where the out flap of the robe ended, buckling at his side while the excess cloth hung from his side like a sash. The robe was reached up to his neck, producing a high, stiff collar that overlapped as well, being held shut with a near-invisible black clasp, near the green lining that traced even up there. As a last and only accessory for Riku's outfit was the chain that hung around his neck, a turquoise gem hanging from the silver necklace, the gem resting between his collarbones at the base of his throat.

Riku idly fiddled with the gem that was cut in an oval that was crafted and polished to perfection, courtesy of a mysterious someone who was an acquaintance of Cloud who gave it to him for him to wear during the play since it accented his look. Smiling slightly, he tapped his boots on the wooden boards of the tree house before heading for the entrance where the flaps that were added during the construction of the island were pulled back, admitting light through the thin, cut sheets. Just as he neared the new ramp that led down to the base of the tree instead of the ladder that was used, he heard familiar voices coming his way, as well as saw two familiar bodies nearly collide into him when they entered.

"Sora, please wear it."

A certain brunette whirled around, appearing ruffled. "Kairi, no. I can't wear that!"

Riku turned to see Kairi rush in with a large bundle of clothes in her arms, the redhead herself looking like she chased Sora all over the island and back (though he wouldn't put it past the brunette to try and run). "Please, Sora, we need to make sure that you fit in your costume! And if you don't, then we need to make adjustments."

Sora sighed and mock-glared at the girl. "Fine, but this better just be for measuring."

Kairi nodded and fumbled with the items in her hands as the brunette started to unzip his shirt.

Riku looked from one friend to another before clearing his throat, deciding to finally be noticed.

"Riku!"

The silver-haired teen nodded at his female friend. "Hey. What are you doing?"

Kairi smiled. "Well, as you probably heard, we're trying to see if Sora's second costume fits him." She paused to take in Riku's outfit. "I see yours fits perfectly."

Riku tugged on part of his sleeve. "Yes, though I am surprised that it does. Did someone tell my size?"

The redhead giggled, nodding. "I mentioned to Aerith about the need of finding a tailor to make our clothes for a suitable price. She introduced me to the Fairy Godmother who created Cinderella's gorgeous gown. The Fairy Godmother offered to make our costumes for free as a way to thank Sora for bringing Cinderella back as well as all the other Princesses. Well, with the addition of the whole 'save the universe' thing."

Nodding, the male teen turned to Sora who slung his shirt over his shoulder, waiting for them to finish.

"And I assume that Sora's is magic-based as well?"

Sora nodded. "Which is why I'm wondering why she needs to make sure it fits me if it was created for only me in the first place."

Kairi puffed as she put down the shoes of the costume. "Well, you never know, magic has its flaws, right?"

Sora rolled his eyes before undressing down to his skivvies by the girl's orders, trying his best to keep a blush down as he did so. Then, he was handed an unusual, puffy, white skirt, slipping into it and zipping up the back and clasping the tip while the girl looked away, herself fighting down a blush.

At the sound of a zipper drawing close, Kairi turned back to face her best friend, witnessing him cross his arms over his bare chest while around his legs and feet was white cloth adding at least a foot or two around him. She smiled apologetically as she pulled something out of the bundle of clothes she had, handing the dress over to Riku who stared at it with a raised brow. She had the brunette lift his arms while she wrapped something around his torso, bringing the ends to the back where there were over a dozen of holes and even more so of string that would hook through the holes in a crisscrossing manner, tied tightly at the bottom.

"Sora?"

The keybearer looked over his shoulder at the girl as she addressed him before working at the string. "Huh?"

"I'm apologizing in advance because what I'm about to do will certainly cause you to have trouble breathing for a while until you're used to the tightness."

Sora shrugged and let the girl work, hoping that the faster she went, and the faster he got the dress on to prove to her that it fit, the faster and sooner he could crawl out of it and into something he suited more.

Kairi bit her lip and sighed mentally, slender fingers working their way through the device around the boy's torso, stringing through the holes and tightening as she went. When she finished, her job was a bit sloppy and looser than it was supposed to be. But then again, she figured, it would be fine since Sora would only be wearing it for a few minutes. And besides, to force a corset and petticoat on a boy who would do no such thing with either of the two contraptions, she figured that he was holding his own very well.

The girl took the actual dress back from her other male friend, blocking out the gasping that the other boy made. She slipped the dress over the boy's head and helped him fix it so that it fell properly, fastening the back so that the dress wouldn't slip off. After so, she walked around the boy as his hand hovered over his torso as he tried to control his breathing.

With a small cheer, she smiled cheerfully at the brunette who attempted to scowl at her. "Well, it looks perfect!"

Riku lifted a brow as he watched the interaction between his two best friends, continuing to watch as the redhead helped the suffocating keybearer slip into shoes with heels that let the edge of the skirt of the dress whisper off the wooden floor.

Looking over him now, Riku took in Sora's outfit. The opening for the head was in the shape of a square, the bottom of the opening stopping just before his underarms, while the sides of it stopped parallel to the sides of his face. All around the head opening was fine while lace, facing inwards, lightly touching his skin. The sleeves of the dress was snug around his arms, ending just at his elbows where it flapped out loosely, the same white lace trimming them. For his bare forearms, upon them would be the silver bracelet with sapphire gems circling his wrist while the opposite wrist held a fan what hung on a braided cord. There was a line of dual laces lining the center of the bodice of the dress as well, ending where the large skirt started. As for the skirt, it was not tight like the bodice that hugged the boy almost too tightly, falling over the corset and underskirt, wide and adding at least an inch to where the skirt plus lace nearly touched the floor, the heels to the shoes he wore preventing the whiteness of the lace to actually touch the ground if unless the boy lowered himself. Around his waist was a dark blue cloth that tied in the back in a large bow, the tails of the ribbon falling down nearly to his knees. In whole, the dress was the shade of light blue with several small specks of gold here and there, making Sora's eyes stand out; his shoes darker than the boy's hues, which made them sparkle more. As for jewelry and accessories that would compliment the outfit, they would remain sapphires. His hair, which was currently a mess, would be lighted with color that would run throughout his hair, lightening it at making it seem like a halo of the sun about his shoulders since his hair would be pulled down forcibly to a feminine fashion.

Snorting silently, Riku turned away, leaving the room as he originally down as Kairi applauded the outfit and helped the boy out of it before leaving him to change into his first costume. Riku walked down the ramp to the base of the tree, the bottom of his boots clacking slightly on the wood in every step that he took in slight rhythm. He walked over to where the construction of what would appear to be a sunken ship (if one ignored the other island it was between), climbing the steps that were placed there in what was originally a ladder. The ladder was moved to the side and could be put back as the stairs were removable for the convenience of the inhabitants of the island for when they had guests who couldn't climb the ladder to get to what was serving as a refreshments and guest area.

He crossed the ramp over to the 'crashed ship' and nodded a greeting to those who he knew and knew him back, as well as accepted him after what he had done in their homes. He walked over to the refreshment table and picked up a small cup of fruit juice that was prepared by Selphie (and probably Tidus and Wakka as well). Just as he was about to sip from it, someone tapped him on the shoulder.

Turning around, the silver-haired teen was greeted enthusiastically by a certain ninja by the name of Yuffie. Smiling at the happy and rather bouncy girl, Riku acknowledge the company she (most likely) dragged with her to meet him. "Hello, Yuffie. I see you've arrived?"

Yuffie nodded. "Yup! Just a few minutes ago. Though, we could've been here earlier if Squall didn't--"

The girl was cut off when Aerith clamped a hand over her mouth, an apologetic look shot toward both him and Leon who glared at the back of Yuffie's head. "Well, the point is that we're here. We're excited to be here for you play, Riku. We hope for a grand finish!"

Yuffie removed Aerith's hand from her mouth and grinned at the silver-haired teen. "Yeah! And where's Sora? Is he in costume too?"

In the teen's head was an image of Sora in his dress and a smirk graced his lips. "Yeah, he's getting ready."

Yuffie's grin widened as she circled the boy, tugging at his clothing. Riku lifted a brow and silently drank his drink as the girl tugged at his robe. When he finished, he crushed the plastic cup and tossed it into the wastebasket beside the table, picking up more and handing them to his newfound friends. He nodded to Cloud and Leon, shaking hands with Cid who chewed on another toothpick. But one person who was new to the group (as far as Riku knew, anyway) made the teen's hand pause slightly at the sight of someone who was an older version of him. Blinking, he offered a cup to him, not surprised when the man refused. Instead, Riku turned to the female ninja and gave her the cup instead.

"Here. And stop prodding me."

Yuffie stuck her tongue out playfully before accepting the cup as Riku handed the last one to Aerith who thanked him kindly.

"Tell us, kid, what's this play about now?"

Riku turned to Cid, flashing him a glare before answering. "If you're asking what the plot is, I can't tell you. Kairi's orders, sorry. But as for what we're doing the play for, it's for all of you." When his audience looked expectantly at him, he continued. "Well, Selphie and Kairi wanted to do something to draw all those around the Kingdom to our island for a bit of fun and laughs. The play is your entertainment and something a few of us are putting on for you. Of course there aren't enough people on the island to take up all the parts, but with the help of a few others who volunteered to help out as a way to pay Sora back for what he'd done, we had enough people to fill up the roles. And also, we had some help from even more people to fix up the island just for the show."

The Gummi engineer nodded and flicked his toothpick into the wastebasket, downed his drink and threw it away, and placed another toothpick into his mouth. "Did the Fairy Godmother make your costumes?"

Riku nodded. "Kairi asked Aerith." Turning to the pink-clad woman, he nodded. "And you introduced her to the Fairy, right?"

Aerith nodded. "Yes, Kairi was very kind in asking me of where to get costumes made and... if I'm not too bold to say, she seemed very desperate."

"Aerith!"

Riku and Aerith turned to see a certain redhead make her way toward them, a mock glare on her face. When she reached the group, she nodded to each of them. "Hello, everyone."

All present smiled as the girl strode forward in her costume, standing next to Riku to face them all. She wore a sleeveless dress of an off-white color with a red bow formed in the back from the cloth around her small waist. Unlike the large skirt that Sora wore, Kairi's skirt had only two thin layers, one being the slip she wore, and then the dress itself. The middle of the skirt opened up to a large 'V' cut, a cloth underneath so to conceal what would show if left uncovered.

Riku turned to the girl at his side and handed her a drink as he had done with the others. "Where's Sora?"

Taking the drink, displaying a simple ring around her fourth finger, Kairi smiled a bit slyly. "Getting ready."

Lifting a brow, Riku asked, "He didn't get lost, did he?"

The redhead laughed. "In what he's wearing? How could he?"

Riku shrugged. "Knowing him, it's possible."

Kairi giggled, hiding behind her juice cup as she saw the others of the group watching them curiously. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her silver-haired friend smirk, revealing nothing to their friends as well.

Cid scratched the back of his head. "Would you two mind making sense?"

The teens glanced at each other, knowing that whatever they said would bring laughs immediately. But choosing to keep from embarrassing their friend unintentionally any more, they shook their head.

Riku waved a hand absently. "No, if we did, then it would only embarrass someone."

Aerith, having a feeling as to what -- or rather, 'whom' -- they were talking about, smiled and nodded. "Well, since we shouldn't concentrate on this person, let us at least compliment your costumes. Kairi, you look lovely."

Kairi smiled. "Thank you! Even though we didn't make them ourselves, the design sure is unique, huh?"

"You've outdone yourself!"

"Not without MY help, of course!"

The group turned to see Selphie in a yellow jumper, an off-white shirt underneath. He wore simple white shoes; in her hair were brown ribbons, tying her hair in a pre-pig-tail hairstyle.

Kairi smiled. "You're right, I can't leave you out of it, can I?"

Selphie grinned. "No you can't!"

Riku nodded to Selphie and placed a hand on Kairi's shoulder. "I'm going to see if Sora needs help. Besides, I know this conversation will head into fashion, so I'm leaving, okay? Anything you want me to check on?"

Kairi shook her head. "No, everything should be fine. But please," she laughed, "do help Sora if he's in a mess."

Riku dipped his head in acknowledgement before leaving, the other males tailing with him in a chance to get away as well. Leon and Cloud flanked him while Cid and the unnamed silver-haired man tailed behind.

Leon gave a slight smile. "Quite an outfit you have, Riku."

The silver-haired teen tugged at his robe as they descended down the stairs. "Thanks, but you should really thank Kairi and Selphie. As you know, they put it all together. Well, them and the Fairy Godmother for her magic to make it work in such a short time. If anything, those two were freaking when they found that couldn't find any material to make the costumes."

The corner of Cloud's mouth twitched upwards. "I can imagine. With Yuffie and Aerith as friends, you learn to drown out their female conversations."

Riku grinned. "Is that why you two looked like you weren't even here at all while they were talking?"

Cloud shrugged.

The five males made their way up to the tree house, discussing about what went on in their time apart. Once they reached the entrance of the tree house, Riku stopped, knocking on the side and calling in past the suddenly drawn flaps of the house.

"Sora?"

From inside came the answer, "What?"

"It's me, Riku. Can I come in?"

There was a muffled sound from inside before the brunette answered. "No. ...Well, yes, but not the rest of them."

Surprised, Riku leaned back, turning to the rest of the males. Lifting a brow, he said, "Well, you heard, you can't come in."

Leon shrugged while Cloud stared at the flaps of the doorway leading inside the house. Light the flickered slightly came through the cracks, but other than that, they couldn't see anything.

Riku turned back around and entered the house, lifting the flap over his head. "Sora?" In the corner lay a huddled figure with their back facing him. Knowing it was Sora, Riku approached the figure and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Sora?" he repeated.

Sora turned around with his hands hovering over a certain part of his chest. "Riku?"

Riku knelt by his best friend. "What is it? Why are you huddled in this corner?"

Sora shook his head, dropping his hands. Something passed through those blue eyes of his before he closed them, inhaling deeply and exhaling in a long sigh. "Never mind."

When the younger male stood up, Riku followed. "Are you sure?"

The brunette nodded and composed himself. "Yeah, I'm fine. But, if anything, this thing is giving me hell!"

Riku frowned when his friend laughed, the sound wrong in his ears. But he had a feeling that if Sora wasn't going to tell, then he wouldn't unless he wanted to. So, acting as if nothing was wrong as well, he smiled. "Well, at least I'm not the one in a jumper."

Sora winced. "Shh! They can hear!"

Riku shrugged as his brunette friend dusted off the skirt of his jumper. Instead of his jumper being of a yellow tint like Selphie's, Sora's dress was the shade of blue like the sky on a clear day, a white shirt underneath, as well as shorts that would've poked out from beneath the dress had the skirt not fall down just below his knees instead of mid-thigh like Selphie's. White sneakers covered his feet and an anklet on his left leg. Riku wondered about this anklet but shrugged it off as he looked around for something to conceal the boy with when they left.

"Well, c'mon. If you're ready, then let's find something to..."

The boy paused then the younger lifted up a large dark cloth. "How about this?"

Riku shrugged. "You tell me; does it fit?"

The brunette wrapped the cloth around his head and shoulders, hiding everything but his face and his feet. "I think so. Anything showing?"

Riku shook his head. "No. You're fine, now let's go. If we know Kairi, she'll want us soon."

Sora nodded and followed the silver-haired teen out, hastily greeting and getting past the men who stared at him with awkward expressions on their faces (well, give or take a few. Only Cid stared at him openly). They went down the ramp and slid by what number of people where were not at the refreshments, over to the shack that led to the bridge to the island where there Paopu tree grew.

In their wake was a certain group of males that stared after them half in confusion, half in amusement.

Cid flicked his toothpick and replaced with another one. "Well, that sure was a damn new thing."

Leon grunted. "New indeed."

Cloud watched as the two hurried across the bridge, the bundled-up Sora finally dropping his wrap to reveal a surprise that only he and his rival could make out clearly, aside from Cid's and Leon's normal vision. Cloud smirked at what he saw and looked sideways to the silver-haired man who stared after the two with unreadable eyes. But knowing the man for the many years he had, Cloud had a feeling as to what the older was thinking.

Clearing his throat, Cloud drew the attention of his friends. "Let's go back."

Leon nodded. "Yuffie and Aerith are more than likely still speaking with Kairi and Selphie."

Cloud nodded and started back down the ramp toward the base of the tree where they would then climb the stairs to meet back up with the loquacious women still by the refreshments.

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AN: All right!! I hope that this... oh, 12-paged thing will bring some happy people, smiles, and tons of reviews! Though I'm having trouble in getting to a computer that uses the internet where mediaminer.org ISN'T blocked, I assure you that I'll get these updates somehow, someway! ...I just need someone to kick me in the rear to remind me to get moving on both of my works... Nothing's for sure when it comes to me, so please be patient with me as you always have and I will see if I can make the next chapter just as long, or possibly longer! But as I said, nothing's for sure. I'll try my hardest, though!

Ta!

Riku: -__- Yeah right. You and turning in stuff on time? Like your updating? Uh-huh... You sound like Sora.

Sora: Hey!

Yeah! That's mean! Don't insult us, Riku!

Sora: Yeah! I can do stuff! Like my journey to Kingdom Hearts! I made it!

Riku: T__T Don't remind me...

Sora: ... Oh! I'm sorry! Ah! Since when did you cry? Don't cry, Riku!

Kairi: ...Idiotic boys. Well, please review for poor Xiao or she'll sulk again.

Hey! I don't sulk!

Kairi: <looks skeptical> Ri~ght.

...Okay, so maybe I sulked. But please! Please review for me!

Sora, Riku and Kairi: Yeah, She's begging you! So you better review!