Fan Fiction ❯ Trials and Tribulations ❯ T&T 9 ( Chapter 9 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: MercuryGoddess 
Anime/Manga: Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 02.22.2004 | Pages: 5 | Words: 7.4K | Visits: 408 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 02.22.2004 | Pages: 5 | Words: 7.4K | Visits: 408 | Status: Completed
Author Notes: Sorry for the delay, but I've been really busy. Also, I made the chapter extra long since I have over 150 reviews! I have another story called Self Control and it's a humor/romance fic. So after you
read this, go there and laugh!
Clarification for Alec L. Jemini: Yes, she was raped.
Clarification for Iniku: Actually, Kairi and Kado do have some connection. Back when Kairi's older brother was in high school, he was friends with Kado, therefore initiating the meeting between Kairi and Kado. More will be revealed in future chapters.
Special Thanks To: Heather Christi, onlyHAUNTED, silvermoonstar-tenshi, myredraincoat, Ocean-eyed Songstress, camigirl4k3, Amara, Rinoki(Rio), Kairi099, fxxtidus899, Uzumaki-sama, Ariana (x2), Rock-Howard-17,
GarnetTill13, Princess of Mirrors, Alec L. Jemini, Kyari, Twinklee, aer-seph4eva, emsdesire, CLOud, Crystalline Tears, chaos_heartless, inoaheartilly, White-Dragon-Goddess, J-X, KaoruFan, Chris, Junsui-san, Psykre,
Lightdemondarkangel, Iniku, shadowsdancingdragon, and my Mediaminer reviewers: fake-wings, Mina Silverflute, Kendra, teaka, YaisaKitty, farrel-chan, nkauj cua and yamichaos!
Thanks To Crystalline Tears For Her Wonderful Beta Work!!
Disclaimer: If I owned Kingdom Hearts, I would be filthy rich right now!! So, get off my back!!
Warnings: This is a yaoi, or to plainly put it male x male relationships! If you don't like it, don't read it!! I don't want to see flames on this subject because I plainly put my warning here!
Rating: I have boosted the rating on this story for future chapters...
Reminder:
"..............." Means talking
(...............) Means author notes
*..............* Means an action
~..............~ Means thinking
'...............' Means past sayings
>.............< Means a place
Trials and Tribulations
Chapter Nine
Part One
Sora reached the parking lot, running directly towards Taiyou's car. Riku silently pondered what Sora was doing before jogging half-heartedly after him, periodically calling out Sora's name.
It fell on deaf ears.
Sora was too busy skimming through his 'flawless' plan, tweaking out all of the questionable areas. He couldn't wait to see the expression on Kado's face; the fright in his eyes, his mouth twisted into a soundless
scream. Oh yes, Sora was going to make Kado pay, and since Riku said that he would help him - even though he didn't know what the plan is - he was going to use it to his advantage.
Ah, he was a genius!
Riku arrived, his face still holding suspicion. For someone whose girlfriend was just raped, he was acting unusually normal. Well, at least as normal as Sora could get. Sora walked towards the incoming boy, leaning in close, a thoughtful expression on his face. A silver eyebrow raised questioningly; curiosity filling him as he watched Sora. "Do you have a safety pin?"
Sora could practically touch the disbelief leaking off of Riku. He practically laughed at the sight. "A safety pin?" the older boy repeated. "Well, I don't exactly carry those around, you know."
After glaring at his best friend, Sora began to run back towards the building. "I'll be right back," he shouted over his shoulder as he picked up the pace and glanced at his watch.
Riku watched the younger boy run back to the large hospital, shaking his head in amazement. ~What the hell is going through his mind?~
He leaned against Taiyou's car and sighed. That smile was still etched in his mind, and the underlying message still frightened him immensely. He knew he wasn't exaggerating when it came to that smile. It was a smile that was both devious, demonic, and to plainly put it, flat out scary. His plan is probably going to be brutal, tortuous, agonizing...
He could feel it.
"I got it!"
Sora’s pace slowed as he came closer to Riku and Taiyou's car. The safety pin he thrust into the air triumphantly was bent out of shape, which was probably Sora's doing. Riku got off of Taiyou's car as Sora went to the driver's side of the car and stuck the safety pin inside. Riku was livid. "What the fuck are you doing to my boyfriend's car?" he hissed, stalking angrily over to Sora.
Annoyed, Sora looked up. "What does it look like I'm doing? I'm picking the lock to get in."
A dry laugh. "You can't pick a lock!" Riku chuckled, rolling his eyes and placing a hand on his hip.
Sora's eyes narrowed before he went back to his task, not even bothering to respond to Riku's comment. He twisted the pin several times in multiple directions. Riku watched with mild interest, starting to doubt the comment he made about Sora not being able to pick a lot. No one works with this much determination if they don’t know what they are doing, right?
*Click*
Sora stood up straight and opened the driver's seat door. He stepped aside and motioned the shocked Riku to get in. With his mouth agape, Riku climbed in, a look of disbelief still imprinted on his face. Sora shut the
door after him and climbed in on the other side. Taking a moment to look at Riku, his mouth curved into a smirk almost identical to Riku's, and he stated, "I can pick a lock."
That seemed to snap Riku out of his dazed stupor. Thousands, perhaps millions, of questions flooded into his head, drowning him in thoughts of the limitless possibilities of Sora. Who taught Sora that? Did he use it? Did Kairi know? "Where did you learn to do that?!" Riku exclaimed, deciding to voice his thoughts. "A-and did you actually..."
He drifted off, deciding to get off the subject of Sora's past despite his burning desire to know. ~There's too much to deal with to bring that up...~
"No, I didn't steal cars if that is what you wanted to ask," Sora replied while waving his hand nonchalantly. "Seifer taught me a long time ago when he was trying to get into his parent's car."
Sora laughed at the memory before falling silent and looking at Riku, his expression once again serious. "I'll tell you more later, but right now we have a plan to fulfill."
He leaned towards the ignition, stuck the pin in, and worked at it, speaking no more. Riku's eyes widened in recognition as he watched Sora. ~There it was again! His eyes glazed over in a sad reminisce...~
Riku crossed his arms, thinking about what all this could mean. It could possibly mean that Sora was raped, and that is why the younger boy is so eager to seek revenge. However, no one deserves what Kairi went through, and that is a good enough reason to just get furious without having a past experience linked to it. Sighing, Riku raked his fingers through his hair, tired and confused from this complex situation. ~If none of this ever happened...~
The engine roared to life, and Sora sat back, admiring his work. "Alright, let's go to Party Warehouse."
Riku glanced over to him briefly before settling his gaze in front of him. He shifted the gear into drive and steadily made his way out of the parking lot, laying every ounce of attention on Sora's plan.
^*^
Riku and Sora had reached Party Warehouse within twenty minutes, in which during that time, Sora explained most of his plan. To his surprise and relief, Riku didn't find the plan to be as tortuous and agonizing as he thought it would be - at least the part of the plan that he was actually told. Sora explained his plan in great detail about what was going to take place until he reached the point where he actually confronts Kado. At that very moment, Sora paused, that same demonic smile adorning his features as he only touched the surface of what he would do when he met Kado. It was at that point that Riku didn't have a clue of what was going to happen. That mere lack of knowledge scared him to no end.
"So Sora, what are you going to be doing while I'm away?" he asked hesitantly while parking the car, Sora's demonic smile automatically appearing in his mind.
Sora looked to Riku - since he was gazing out of the window - and smiled at him slyly. "Don't worry about it, Riku. I got it covered."
That was what he feared the most. Sora covering up his real scheme with a not-so-bad plan. It's probably what he's doing right now...
"Don't worry, eh? Well, you're asking a lot there, Sora."
Waving his hand in dismissal, Sora opened the car door and headed inside. Riku sighed, following the younger boy with his gaze. Due to the new situations, Riku’s thoughts continued to become more and more jumbled. At first, he was just trying to sort his feelings for Sora and Taiyou. Now, he's trying to figure out a way to help Sora and Kairi's relationship, figure out a way to help his OWN relationship with Taiyou, and Sora's past. There was something that happened in Sora's past, and it caused Sora to act this way. Back in the basement of Kairi's house, he looked upon things with eyes glazed in sad reminiscence - even if it was for a split second. That same glazed over look appeared when he mentioned Seifer. In order for Sora to get through this, he has to confront his past.
Riku was going to try to figure it out after the plan.
"Are you coming, Riku?"
Blinking twice, the silver-haired boy shook his head 'no'. "I'll wait for you here."
Sora shrugged in response and disappeared in the store. The large warehouse was packed with costumes galore, streamers and party favors hanging randomly off the ceilings. At the entrance, the immediate right, laid the customer service. A middle-aged man with spiky blond hair and a cigarette in his mouth looked to the door, a bored expression on his face. As soon as he spotted Sora, his face lit up with surprise and happiness. He opened the white swinging door in front of him. "Sora, my boy!"
The blond brought the brunette into a bear hug, rubbing his knuckles playfully in the mass of brown spikes. Sora flashed a weak grin. "Hi Uncle Cid."
Cid immediately dropped Sora, frowning at him while taking a long puff of his cigarette. "What's the matta wit ya, kid?" he said while exhaling the gray smoke. "You look like ya just saw ya dog get hit by a car, and his guts went flyin' everywhere!"
Despite that morbid analogy, Sora couldn't help but let out a chuckle as he straightened out his clothes. "I always love your way with words, Uncle Cid, but I have no time to admire that. I need your help."
Sora discussed the situation and the details of his plan. Since this isn't exactly a good plan, he wondered how Cid was actually going to react to this. Knowing his uncle though, he was sure that Cid would help...
"Aww, that's terrible, kid. I'm glad you're teachin' that little fuck a lesson! Go ahead, roam the store and find whatever you need."
Sora punched the palm of his hand enthusiastically while walking backwards to the aisles. "Thanks Uncle Cid! I'll pay you when I get some more money!"
"Don't bother paying, it's on me. And stop callin' me uncle, damnit!! It makes me sound old!!"
Sora laughed loudly before completely disappearing into the costume-filled hallways. With him being here several times before, the boy came to know the aisles like the back of his hand. As if by second nature, Sora
turned to the right, then immediately afterward, turned to the left. Hundreds and hundreds of wigs and outfits lined the shelves, ranging from fantasy genres to action/adventure. Sora jogged down the hallway, expertly looking from side to side to find what he was looking for. Reaching the hair dye section, Sora grabbed some midnight black and light brown dye. Directly across from the hair dye was the outfits. Sora quickly spotted a black cloak and a police outfit, yanked them off the shelf, then moved on to the shoes.
"Hey CID!!" Sora yelled, knowing that his uncle would hear him. "You got some contacts?!"
"HELL YEA, KID! WHO DO YOU THINK WE ARE, THAT CHEAP ASS STORE DOWN THE STREET?!"
Sora laughed at the comment as he picked up a pair of black combat boots with a large heel. "Get me amethyst and icy blue!!"
Even though there was no response back, Sora was certain that Cid heard him, so he gathered all his stuff and headed back to the front of the warehouse. Cid was waiting with a small bag in his hands, which Sora assumed to be the contacts. Grabbing the bag out of his hands, Sora waved goodbye and headed back to the car. From what he could see, Riku was reclined back in his seat, leaning against arms that were crossed behind his head and eyes gently closed.
This was the first time he saw Riku resting so peacefully, and that strange feeling from his first day of school came pooling into his stomach. Sora frowned as the feeling filled him. He shouldn’t be feeling this or anything at all. The fact of the matter is that he was with Kairi, and Riku was with Taiyou. Kairi opened her heart in front of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people and to feel this way for another guy was wrong...right?
"Are you ready to go?"
Sora watched as Riku sleepily rubbed his eyes and let out a yawn, stretching his arms out at the same time. Sora couldn't help but notice how insanely cute this gesture was. He let out a growl mentally. ~I have to ignore this kind of stuff...~
"Yea," Sora replied weakly. He sighed as he covered his face with his hands. "Let's go."
"Ok. I'm taking you back to the hospital."
Sora's head snapped up, his eyes narrowing and his breath beginning an irregular pace. "No. We can't."
Riku started the car before looking to Sora. "You need to see Kairi and talk to her. Stop avoiding it."
Stepping on the gas, Riku zoomed out of the vast parking lot and onto a small street as a shortcut to the hospital. Sora glared at him fiercely. "If I remember correctly, she was the one who didn't want to see me."
Riku winced slightly at the iciness in Sora's tone, but his answer was given back with just as much ferocity. "And you need to fix that before your relationship with her collapses."
"Don't tell me what I should or shouldn’t do, Riku!" he yelled, reaching for the steering wheel in a blind rage. "I told you I got it covered!"
Riku kept one hand on the steering wheel while using the other hand to fend off Sora's fumbling one. "What the hell is your problem?!" he snarled, throwing Sora a death glare while trying to keep his eyes on the road. "You probably don't know what you're going to do. You looked like a deer in headlights when the doctor asked you to leave the room!"
Sora growled and yanked the Riku's hands off the steering wheel completely. He pulled to the side of the road, forcing Riku to slam on the brakes to avoid a parked car. "Fuck you, Riku. You don't know what I'm going to do about Kairi."
Unlocking the door, Sora attempted to get out only to be stopped by Riku's arm pulling the door shut and his other arm resting on the lock/unlock button. "Only because you didn't tell me. Why won’t you tell me, Sora?"
"Because I don't...want to trust you."
Riku was slightly taken aback at the comment, but nevertheless stayed quiet, waiting for him to continue.
"That is what my family was built on. Trust. The most important characteristic that someone can have is trustworthiness. I grew up on those beliefs; that if someone had that quality, then they’re the people you should be around; befriend. Kairi was that person back in elementary school. My secrets were always safe with her, and I knew that for as long as we were best friends - which back then I thought would be forever - she would keep my secrets. She was like my safe, storing all the things that I couldn't leave in the open. It was that characteristic that drew me so close to her."
Sora paused, stopping all struggling and letting out a deep sigh. "Then came middle school. The time where everything in my life went from good to bad. Kairi went to a summer camp for cheerleading and I went to a
baseball camp. We didn't see each other until the first day of middle school. I had gotten slightly taller, but that was pretty much it. For Kairi, she had completely changed. She came back taller, more developed, braces off, and contacts in. Skimpier outfits and designer accessories added to the makeover. She was a different person, not the wear-whatever-was-comfortable girl I knew in elementary. On that day, my trust was broken for the first time. We promised each other to be together forever no matter what, and she broke that promise for her reputation."
"I was heartbroken, to say the least. I was naive and didn't understand the 'groups' of middle school. Sixth grade past and seventh grade came, Kairi growing even more popular while I remained alone. Until I met Irvine. He was the first person who actually cared about me and I instantly recognized the same trustworthiness I saw in Kairi. Like a moth to a flame, I was drawn to his group, this group of eight graders who so graciously decided to take me under their wing. I admired them, and they ended up shattering what was left of my trust once more. Ever since that time, I worked so hard to shut myself up and keep private, letting people only see the surface. Then you came."
Riku opened his mouth to say something, but Sora rested a single finger on his lips to silence him. A small sad smile appeared on his face as he stared deep into Riku's sea green eyes. His voice dropped to a whisper. "The walls I carefully constructed were tore down by you with such ease and I still don't know how or why. I want to tell you everything, but I can't do that again, Riku. I can't set myself up again because I don't know if I'd have the strength to pick up the pieces again."
Grabbing the finger that rested on his lips, Riku pulled it toward him to bring Sora into an embrace. He put his mouth to Sora's ear and whispered as Sora had. "When I said that I'd be the shoulder you cry on, I meant every word. I'm not going to build up your trust then knock it right back down."
He felt nails digging into his back, but he ignored the feeling. "I have a characteristic that I grew up believing in too and that is loyalty. I will be there for you through thick and thin, as long as it doesn't involve murder or drugs."
Riku heard a muffled laugh and felt slight trembling as he shifted his weight to get a good look at Sora. The younger boy was on the verge of tears, but a weak smile adorned his face as he wiped the tears gathering on the corners of his eyes. "And to think," the younger boy began, looking up at Riku, "I wanted to pick up a bag tonight."
Riku blinked twice just out of pure shock, but as soon as he heard Sora burst into laughter, he couldn't help but laugh himself. Sora's laugh, after all, was contagious. The two boys leaned against each other, still laughing, the events to come not even grazing their minds.
^*^
"Kairi, we're all here. No one is going to hurt you in any way, shape, or form."
Taiyou rubbed the back of the trembling bundle in smooth, slow strokes while hugging her the best he could. Kairi had been this way ever since Sora ran out of the room, claiming that she wasn't good enough for Sora anymore. She wasn't the only one who felt the effects of that intense moment. The outburst from Kairi had shaken everyone up, and once again, Kairi's mother had fainted from the heartbreaking sight. Aki's carefully sculpted emotionless mask had broken the moment he laid eyes on his sobbing sister, and his tears haven't stopped from that moment. Since Sora and Riku left, everyone’s condition has steadily become worse than they were before. Even Dr. Miyazaki was slightly stumbling under the heavy burden placed upon his heart.
It was evident by the numerous cups of coffee he kept drinking.
To an outsider's view, it seemed as if Taiyou was the only one coping. Truth be told, he was taking this as hard - if not harder - than everyone else. Kairi was like a little sister to him. Kado had taken this way too far, and a fight with an underclassman shouldn't have sparked such a violent and unnecessary act.
There was no excuse.
"T-Taiyou...?"
Taiyou looked down, immediately, gently brushing some of Kairi's sweat-covered strands out of her face. The calling of his name sparked everyone's attention, and the room grew deathly silent as everyone focused their undivided attention to Kairi. "Yes, Kairi?"
"S-sora hates me now, doesn't he? H-he was r-right. S-sora doesn't like damaged goods! [1]"
It was as if the gates of hell opened right in front of their eyes, unveiling never-before-seen horrors; that statement sent everyone over the edge. Most were split between whether to kill or cry for all the suffering this poor girl had to go through. Taiyou never felt so angry in his life, and the rage he felt was only the surface of what he really was feeling. He wanted to see Kado tortured in many ways. Killing him quickly wasn't an option. "He will never hate you, Kairi," he answered, his voice wavering due to his ignited rage and sadness. "Don't believe anything Kado says."
He firmly planted a kiss on her temple as he scanned the room to see the reaction of the others. Aki's tears stopped all together, and he stared blankly ahead of him like his soul had been ripped from the very core of his body. Dr. Miyazaki shook his head in sadness while gathering Mrs. Tatewaki into his arms.
Her sobbing caused her knees to buckle.
Taiyou let out a deep sigh and continued to rub Kairi's back, while looking out the window that lay to his right. Where Sora and Riku went, he didn't know, but he prayed that everything would come out the best it could. How was this situation going to be solved? Will Kado pay for what he did? Will Sora and Kairi's relationship bridge the newly-formed gap? For the first time in a long time, Taiyou didn't know. He didn't know the answer to anything, and because of this he felt helpless, weak, and pitiful. ~If the only thing I can do it comfort Kairi, then that is what I will do with the best of my ability.~
^*^
[1] If you didn't read the unedited version of chapter seven, that is what this statement is referring to. Kado said, "Let's see if Sora wants damaged goods."
^*^
Trials and Tribulations
Chapter Nine
Part Two
His heart was pounding. Sweat veiled his face in a thin sheen as his breath increased drastically and his legs became filled with lead. All this was the cause of him walking towards the last place he wanted to be. The hospital.
It took every ounce of strength, courage, and determination to keep himself from running away from that building with his tail between his legs - not that he could go anyway because Riku had a firm grip on his wrist. The mere thought of going back in that room to see Kairi trembling on the hospital bed, screaming that he couldn't see her was heart-wrenching and hope-shattering. If Kado hadn't beaten him up when he accidentally ran into him, none of this would have ever happened. Riku and Sora would have never kissed, which in turn, scrambled their thoughts, and Kairi would have kept her popular status and never gotten involved...
So many things wouldn't have happened, and everyone would be peaceful.
"Is it just me or are you gaining weight each time we take a step closer to this building?"
Warily, Sora looked at Riku, who was smirking as he continued to drag Sora forward. The smirk soon turned into a serious expression. "I know this is hard for you, Sora, but it's not going to go away if you leave it alone."
Sora only glared at him in response to the statement as he dredged forward through the hospital doors. The receptionist at the front desk recognized them instantly, and she only acknowledged their presence with a
nod and a small smile. Both of them returned the smile to be polite.
Making their way up to room 211, Sora started to feel the effects of the situation full-force. It made him sick to his stomach that Kairi had to be dragged into this, especially when the fight wasn't all that serious. If Kado had gotten angry about being in trouble from the fight, he should have confronted him directly, not taken it out on someone who has nothing to do with the fight. It was cowardly, shameful, and degrading.
Riku felt even more resistance as the pair of boys got closer to Kairi's room. He turned around and spotted immense fear with a blend of anger in Sora's eyes. Even though Riku said that he would be there to comfort Sora whenever he needed him, in a way, he felt helpless to do anything. This was a situation that had to be healed more mentally than physically, and only the person experiencing the mental pain can help themselves. It was as if he was standing on a dock, watching his friend drown in his own misery because he's in too much pain to try to get out and there was nothing he could do about it. What are you suppose to do in that type of situation? The
thought of watching two of his friends get killed off slowly on the inside at the same time was unbelievable.
The room was now in front of them, but no one made the effort to go inside. For Sora, walking inside would be committing himself to solve a problem he had no control over, and for Riku, walking inside would mean
he would have to watch that slow process of mental murder, not being able to do anything about it. Riku knew that going in that hospital room was inevitable, so he turned about and entwined his fingers with Sora's,
giving them a reassuring squeeze. The color had once again drained completely out of Sora's face, giving him an eerie, pale, ghostly look that sent shudders down Riku's spine. His sapphire eyes dimmed down greatly,
and his muscles tensed. The reassuring squeeze did nothing but direct Sora's attention to Riku. "Are you ready?" Riku asked as he reached for the doorknob.
Breathing in deep and closing his eyes for a split second, Sora nodded in response, repeating Riku's words over and over in his head like a mantra.
'It's not going to go away if you leave it alone. It's not going to go away if you leave it alone.'
Riku twisted the knob and opened the door fully, looking about before stepping into the room. If the mood wasn't dark and dismal before, it was now seeing the faces of everyone in the room. Aki was a stone, blandly looking out the window and showing no reaction to anything; a much different quality to the happy college student he saw earlier. Ayaka was sitting in a chair near the bed with her head rested against her hand and her eyes closed. Both of their faces were drawn, their slightly rosy cheeks stained with dried tears. Taiyou was actually on the bed holding Kairi, who was but a still bundle laying against his chest. His shoulder length light brown hair was disheveled to say the least and his amber eyes dulled down from the last time he saw him. Taiyou turned around and looked at the entwined fingers of Riku and Sora before looking back up at Riku. Riku could tell that Taiyou was tired, and he motioned Taiyou to come to him. Releasing his hand from Sora's, he placed the same hand on Sora's back and nudged him forward as he walked. Taiyou was in the process of untangling himself from the awkward position Kairi put him in and in a matter of minutes he was by Riku's side, waiting for Sora to step forward. Hesitantly, the younger boy began to inch his way forward toward the bed, climbing onto it as softly as possible. He held Kairi to his chest and looked down. She was already awakening from her semi-peaceful slumber, causing his nerves to set on fire. Her sleepy lavender [2] eyes met his frightened sapphire eyes and for a moment, they just stared at each other, unable to say or do anything.
As if testing the waters, Sora lifted his hand and brushed it lightly across her cheek. She closed her eyes instantly at the soft touch, then recoiled back as if the touch was forbidden. "N-No, Kairi," Sora pleaded softly as he tightened their embrace. "P-Please don't shut me out. P-Please..."
Her eyes shot open as she felt the body she was crushed against start trembling, yet there was no wetness on her gown. "R-Remember when we were kids, and I was Sora the Monster Slayer and you were Kairi, Treasure Huntress Extraordinaire? I would kill all the bad monsters, and you would collect the treasure?"
Tears glistened in Kairi's eyes as she remembered the memories of her childhood with Sora. They were inseparable, never to be separated by anyone or anything. It was true, Sora the Monster Slayer and Kairi, Treasure Huntress Extraordinaire would always row to their island, making up adventures and new treasures to find. If there were any monsters in the area, you could always count on Sora to slay the evil monster. And if there was any treasure, you could always count on Kairi to find it. Sora’s embrace tightened reassuringly around her. "We could do that now, Kairi. Just you and me; I'll get rid of all the bad monsters, and you can collect the treasure."
"Sora, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry!"
Kairi dug her face into Sora's shoulder, new tears spilling off her cheeks. He only held her more in response, his own tears dampening her gown.
Riku inhaled deeply and turned around to wait outside. Taiyou followed him, and together they walked to the small waiting area a couple of rooms down. Plopping on the nearby couch, Riku wasted no time lying down and covering his face with his hands. Taiyou walked in front of Riku and kneeled down, stroking his hair idly as he watched his boyfriend rest. Riku uncovered his face and brought Taiyou into a hug, replaying the intense moments shared between Sora and Kairi. "No one deserves this, Taiyou. No one."
Taiyou kissed Riku on the forehead and the temple before leaning into Riku's hair. "I know, Riku, came his muffled response, I know.”
~Midnight~
"Contacts?"
"Check."
"Hair?"
"Check."
"Outfit?"
"Check."
"Rope?"
"Check."
"And...handcuffs?"
"Check."
"How do I look?"
Indeed, Sora did look like a completely different person. With the amethyst contacts and his straightened, dyed black hair, he looked like the stalker he was trying to be. The six inch heeled boots made him look like a grown man, and the black cloak hide everything except the last two inches of each boot. Slim black gloves - courtesy of Riku - covered his hands and a little of his mother's concealer made him look slightly darker than he usually is. Riku still couldn't get over the hair. With it straightened, his hair reached the top of his shoulder blades, which is quite long considering they were originally in spikes. ~How was his hair going to go back to spikes anyway...?~
"My hair can never stay straightened for a long time," Sora responded with ease to Riku's nonverbal question. "My hair will be spiky again within the week."
Riku shrugged as he fixed the police uniform he wore, complete with badges and a plastic gun. The fact that he dyed his hair light brown and put in icy blue contacts says how far he'll go for Sora.
To him, this was pretty far. "You look good, Riku."
Riku looked up and caught Sora scanning over his body. "You look like a true police officer."
Smirking, Riku tipped his hat to the side, then saluted, causing both of them to laugh shortly. He checked his watch and walked to Sora's window. Expertly climbing out, Riku slid down the nearby tree and ran to the car, motioning Sora to come down. Sora held up his finger to request that he held on for a few minutes while he checked over the final details. Kado got the letter for sure since he and Riku watched Kado read it, and everything else was pretty much flawless. He was missing only one more thing. Getting on all fours, Sora lifted the flap of his comforter up and grabbed a small box under his bed. He lifted the cover to reveal a sharpened butcher knife in its sheath. Grabbing the knife, he stuck it in one of the many deep pockets the cloak had and climbed out the window, sprinting to the car, and getting inside. Riku drove off to their destination: an alley behind Destiny Island's bookstore.
"You never did tell me what you were actually going to do while I play watchdog," Riku said smoothly, keeping his eyes on the road.
Sora looked to Riku and flashed him a demonic version of his trademark smile. "Don't worry, Riku. I got it covered."
Riku only shook his head, initiating another period of silence. The alley wasn't that far away, and within the ten minutes that they left, they arrived. Riku parked the car along the side of the road, and both of them got out; Sora began straightening his cloak. He practiced walking in the boots ahead of time so that he wouldn't trip and make a fool of himself, so he stepped forward with confidence and pride. The sky was pitch black and very few stars were out to dot the blanket of darkness. One streetlight was on about one and a half blocks away, giving some light to the empty street, but not much. Sora could see that Kado was already there, pacing back and forth as if he were preparing himself for a fight.
That's not really what he should be preparing himself for.
Riku ran directly to his hiding spot while Sora wasted no time and ran to his unsuspecting victim, bringing the rope smoothly from his cloak pocket and wrapping it around the wrist of the upperclassman. Kado let out a surprise shriek as he fell to the ground, automatically struggling to get free from the bounds that held his arms together. Sora tied the knot on his wrist tight, then threw the rest of the rope up through a fire escape above, grabbing it and yanking downward. Kado let out a pained cry as he was lifted only a few feet above the ground. Riku secretly grabbed the remaining rope and tied it down to a pole near the side of the bookstore. Moving back into his hiding place, Riku watched the unknown part of Sora's plan unfold.
Sora cleared his throat and prepared to change the tone. It was a little known fact, but Sora loved making imitations, thus, improving many different dialects. He had been practicing this afternoon to get back in the swing, and he came up with the perfect tone for this 'character.' "Perhaps the most ludicrous thing you have ever done in your entire pathetic excuse for a life, Kado, is mess with the Tatewaki family," Sora stated in a voice that was cool, calm, and slightly deeper than his own.
Kado struggled to get loose, his fear evident by the constant swaying of his hanging body. "I-I don't know what you're talking about!"
Sora whipped out the butcher knife and held it to Kado's throat, smiling eerily as he watched the blade pierce the skin. "If you want to live, then I suggest you don't act like a damned fool!"
Whimpering, Kado tried to stay deathly still to avoid the knife from piercing his skin any further. Sora took his silence as response to the threat and removed some of the pressure on Kado's neck. Using the hand that was free, Sora pulled out some handcuffs and snapped them on Kado's ankles just in case he got the idea to kick. He moved the knife to one of Kado's arms; his gaze still locked on Kado. "Why did you sexually assault Kairi Tatewaki?"
Kado hadn't even heard the question, too wrapped up in his fear to say anything except the question that came tumbling out of his mouth unexpectedly: "Where is Sora?"
Sora sliced one of his arms swiftly, a thin line of blood to emerging from the deep, excruciating cut. Bringing the bloodied knife back to the neck of the boy whose mouth was twisted into a soundless scream, Sora glared at him hatefully. "You are in no position to ask foolish questions, boy. I could have killed you already, but I made the decision not to, so I suggest you not irritate me further."
Silence was his only response, and he smirked before a serious expression adorned his face. "Now I will repeat the question for this one time: Why did you sexually assault Kairi Tatewaki?"
"B-Because she's Sora's girlfriend and I wanted to hurt him since he hurt me."
It took every last shred of his sanity to not slice this boy in two. Eyes flashing with a silent rage he questioned, "He hurt you? And just how, pray tell, did he hurt you?"
"He turned my father against me!"
Sora was no longer paying attention as he brought the butcher knife to Kado's other arm and slicing as he did the first one. Kado threw his head back in pain with teeth clenched in order to silence himself. He didn't dare scream for fear of his life. All his muscles tensed before they went limp; tired from the hanging and the excruciating pain he felt. Sora felt the tension and almost laughed.
He was loving every second of this.
Trailing the knife down Kado's body, Sora quickly ripped the button off Kado's jeans and unzipped his zipper slowly but surely. He heard a choked gasp above him and chuckled at the sound coming from the upperclassman.
"Don't worry, boys intrigue me, but I rather fuck the devil than fuck you. Well, in this case, I'd be fucking myself if I fucked the devil."
Sora threw his head back and laughed, but not so loud that it would actually cause attention. He felt Kado trembling under his touch, but he was far from caring. He reached into the older boy's boxers and pulled out his member, placing the knife at the base of it. He brought the knife back and forth-gently enough as to not draw blood, ripping a strangled cry from Kado.
"Hello? Is anybody down here?"
Sora cursed silently before he jabbed the key into the shackles around Kado’s ankles and released the cuffs. He then pulled the knife away from him and used it to cut the rope, causing Kado to fall harshly to the ground. Grabbing him by the collar, he stated, "I suggest you run, and if you speak of this to anyone, I will find you and I will kill you. That's not a threat, it's a promise."
Kado scrambled to his feet and ran as fast as he could, Sora watching him disappear into the dark of the night. He turned around and headed back to the car and dropped the bloodied knife back into the pocket in his cloak. He would deal with it later.
Riku came from around the corner, eyeing Sora suspiciously as he too headed to the car. "What did you do, Sora? It was way too dark to see anything from where I was, and all I heard was you guys talking."
Sora got in the car and flashed Riku his trademark smile. "Don't worry about it, Riku. I covered it."
^*^
Finished! Long, long chapter for you people, so review! Constructive criticism welcome.
~MercuryGoddess~
read this, go there and laugh!
Clarification for Alec L. Jemini: Yes, she was raped.
Clarification for Iniku: Actually, Kairi and Kado do have some connection. Back when Kairi's older brother was in high school, he was friends with Kado, therefore initiating the meeting between Kairi and Kado. More will be revealed in future chapters.
Special Thanks To: Heather Christi, onlyHAUNTED, silvermoonstar-tenshi, myredraincoat, Ocean-eyed Songstress, camigirl4k3, Amara, Rinoki(Rio), Kairi099, fxxtidus899, Uzumaki-sama, Ariana (x2), Rock-Howard-17,
GarnetTill13, Princess of Mirrors, Alec L. Jemini, Kyari, Twinklee, aer-seph4eva, emsdesire, CLOud, Crystalline Tears, chaos_heartless, inoaheartilly, White-Dragon-Goddess, J-X, KaoruFan, Chris, Junsui-san, Psykre,
Lightdemondarkangel, Iniku, shadowsdancingdragon, and my Mediaminer reviewers: fake-wings, Mina Silverflute, Kendra, teaka, YaisaKitty, farrel-chan, nkauj cua and yamichaos!
Thanks To Crystalline Tears For Her Wonderful Beta Work!!
Disclaimer: If I owned Kingdom Hearts, I would be filthy rich right now!! So, get off my back!!
Warnings: This is a yaoi, or to plainly put it male x male relationships! If you don't like it, don't read it!! I don't want to see flames on this subject because I plainly put my warning here!
Rating: I have boosted the rating on this story for future chapters...
Reminder:
"..............." Means talking
(...............) Means author notes
*..............* Means an action
~..............~ Means thinking
'...............' Means past sayings
>.............< Means a place
Trials and Tribulations
Chapter Nine
Part One
Sora reached the parking lot, running directly towards Taiyou's car. Riku silently pondered what Sora was doing before jogging half-heartedly after him, periodically calling out Sora's name.
It fell on deaf ears.
Sora was too busy skimming through his 'flawless' plan, tweaking out all of the questionable areas. He couldn't wait to see the expression on Kado's face; the fright in his eyes, his mouth twisted into a soundless
scream. Oh yes, Sora was going to make Kado pay, and since Riku said that he would help him - even though he didn't know what the plan is - he was going to use it to his advantage.
Ah, he was a genius!
Riku arrived, his face still holding suspicion. For someone whose girlfriend was just raped, he was acting unusually normal. Well, at least as normal as Sora could get. Sora walked towards the incoming boy, leaning in close, a thoughtful expression on his face. A silver eyebrow raised questioningly; curiosity filling him as he watched Sora. "Do you have a safety pin?"
Sora could practically touch the disbelief leaking off of Riku. He practically laughed at the sight. "A safety pin?" the older boy repeated. "Well, I don't exactly carry those around, you know."
After glaring at his best friend, Sora began to run back towards the building. "I'll be right back," he shouted over his shoulder as he picked up the pace and glanced at his watch.
Riku watched the younger boy run back to the large hospital, shaking his head in amazement. ~What the hell is going through his mind?~
He leaned against Taiyou's car and sighed. That smile was still etched in his mind, and the underlying message still frightened him immensely. He knew he wasn't exaggerating when it came to that smile. It was a smile that was both devious, demonic, and to plainly put it, flat out scary. His plan is probably going to be brutal, tortuous, agonizing...
He could feel it.
"I got it!"
Sora’s pace slowed as he came closer to Riku and Taiyou's car. The safety pin he thrust into the air triumphantly was bent out of shape, which was probably Sora's doing. Riku got off of Taiyou's car as Sora went to the driver's side of the car and stuck the safety pin inside. Riku was livid. "What the fuck are you doing to my boyfriend's car?" he hissed, stalking angrily over to Sora.
Annoyed, Sora looked up. "What does it look like I'm doing? I'm picking the lock to get in."
A dry laugh. "You can't pick a lock!" Riku chuckled, rolling his eyes and placing a hand on his hip.
Sora's eyes narrowed before he went back to his task, not even bothering to respond to Riku's comment. He twisted the pin several times in multiple directions. Riku watched with mild interest, starting to doubt the comment he made about Sora not being able to pick a lot. No one works with this much determination if they don’t know what they are doing, right?
*Click*
Sora stood up straight and opened the driver's seat door. He stepped aside and motioned the shocked Riku to get in. With his mouth agape, Riku climbed in, a look of disbelief still imprinted on his face. Sora shut the
door after him and climbed in on the other side. Taking a moment to look at Riku, his mouth curved into a smirk almost identical to Riku's, and he stated, "I can pick a lock."
That seemed to snap Riku out of his dazed stupor. Thousands, perhaps millions, of questions flooded into his head, drowning him in thoughts of the limitless possibilities of Sora. Who taught Sora that? Did he use it? Did Kairi know? "Where did you learn to do that?!" Riku exclaimed, deciding to voice his thoughts. "A-and did you actually..."
He drifted off, deciding to get off the subject of Sora's past despite his burning desire to know. ~There's too much to deal with to bring that up...~
"No, I didn't steal cars if that is what you wanted to ask," Sora replied while waving his hand nonchalantly. "Seifer taught me a long time ago when he was trying to get into his parent's car."
Sora laughed at the memory before falling silent and looking at Riku, his expression once again serious. "I'll tell you more later, but right now we have a plan to fulfill."
He leaned towards the ignition, stuck the pin in, and worked at it, speaking no more. Riku's eyes widened in recognition as he watched Sora. ~There it was again! His eyes glazed over in a sad reminisce...~
Riku crossed his arms, thinking about what all this could mean. It could possibly mean that Sora was raped, and that is why the younger boy is so eager to seek revenge. However, no one deserves what Kairi went through, and that is a good enough reason to just get furious without having a past experience linked to it. Sighing, Riku raked his fingers through his hair, tired and confused from this complex situation. ~If none of this ever happened...~
The engine roared to life, and Sora sat back, admiring his work. "Alright, let's go to Party Warehouse."
Riku glanced over to him briefly before settling his gaze in front of him. He shifted the gear into drive and steadily made his way out of the parking lot, laying every ounce of attention on Sora's plan.
^*^
Riku and Sora had reached Party Warehouse within twenty minutes, in which during that time, Sora explained most of his plan. To his surprise and relief, Riku didn't find the plan to be as tortuous and agonizing as he thought it would be - at least the part of the plan that he was actually told. Sora explained his plan in great detail about what was going to take place until he reached the point where he actually confronts Kado. At that very moment, Sora paused, that same demonic smile adorning his features as he only touched the surface of what he would do when he met Kado. It was at that point that Riku didn't have a clue of what was going to happen. That mere lack of knowledge scared him to no end.
"So Sora, what are you going to be doing while I'm away?" he asked hesitantly while parking the car, Sora's demonic smile automatically appearing in his mind.
Sora looked to Riku - since he was gazing out of the window - and smiled at him slyly. "Don't worry about it, Riku. I got it covered."
That was what he feared the most. Sora covering up his real scheme with a not-so-bad plan. It's probably what he's doing right now...
"Don't worry, eh? Well, you're asking a lot there, Sora."
Waving his hand in dismissal, Sora opened the car door and headed inside. Riku sighed, following the younger boy with his gaze. Due to the new situations, Riku’s thoughts continued to become more and more jumbled. At first, he was just trying to sort his feelings for Sora and Taiyou. Now, he's trying to figure out a way to help Sora and Kairi's relationship, figure out a way to help his OWN relationship with Taiyou, and Sora's past. There was something that happened in Sora's past, and it caused Sora to act this way. Back in the basement of Kairi's house, he looked upon things with eyes glazed in sad reminiscence - even if it was for a split second. That same glazed over look appeared when he mentioned Seifer. In order for Sora to get through this, he has to confront his past.
Riku was going to try to figure it out after the plan.
"Are you coming, Riku?"
Blinking twice, the silver-haired boy shook his head 'no'. "I'll wait for you here."
Sora shrugged in response and disappeared in the store. The large warehouse was packed with costumes galore, streamers and party favors hanging randomly off the ceilings. At the entrance, the immediate right, laid the customer service. A middle-aged man with spiky blond hair and a cigarette in his mouth looked to the door, a bored expression on his face. As soon as he spotted Sora, his face lit up with surprise and happiness. He opened the white swinging door in front of him. "Sora, my boy!"
The blond brought the brunette into a bear hug, rubbing his knuckles playfully in the mass of brown spikes. Sora flashed a weak grin. "Hi Uncle Cid."
Cid immediately dropped Sora, frowning at him while taking a long puff of his cigarette. "What's the matta wit ya, kid?" he said while exhaling the gray smoke. "You look like ya just saw ya dog get hit by a car, and his guts went flyin' everywhere!"
Despite that morbid analogy, Sora couldn't help but let out a chuckle as he straightened out his clothes. "I always love your way with words, Uncle Cid, but I have no time to admire that. I need your help."
Sora discussed the situation and the details of his plan. Since this isn't exactly a good plan, he wondered how Cid was actually going to react to this. Knowing his uncle though, he was sure that Cid would help...
"Aww, that's terrible, kid. I'm glad you're teachin' that little fuck a lesson! Go ahead, roam the store and find whatever you need."
Sora punched the palm of his hand enthusiastically while walking backwards to the aisles. "Thanks Uncle Cid! I'll pay you when I get some more money!"
"Don't bother paying, it's on me. And stop callin' me uncle, damnit!! It makes me sound old!!"
Sora laughed loudly before completely disappearing into the costume-filled hallways. With him being here several times before, the boy came to know the aisles like the back of his hand. As if by second nature, Sora
turned to the right, then immediately afterward, turned to the left. Hundreds and hundreds of wigs and outfits lined the shelves, ranging from fantasy genres to action/adventure. Sora jogged down the hallway, expertly looking from side to side to find what he was looking for. Reaching the hair dye section, Sora grabbed some midnight black and light brown dye. Directly across from the hair dye was the outfits. Sora quickly spotted a black cloak and a police outfit, yanked them off the shelf, then moved on to the shoes.
"Hey CID!!" Sora yelled, knowing that his uncle would hear him. "You got some contacts?!"
"HELL YEA, KID! WHO DO YOU THINK WE ARE, THAT CHEAP ASS STORE DOWN THE STREET?!"
Sora laughed at the comment as he picked up a pair of black combat boots with a large heel. "Get me amethyst and icy blue!!"
Even though there was no response back, Sora was certain that Cid heard him, so he gathered all his stuff and headed back to the front of the warehouse. Cid was waiting with a small bag in his hands, which Sora assumed to be the contacts. Grabbing the bag out of his hands, Sora waved goodbye and headed back to the car. From what he could see, Riku was reclined back in his seat, leaning against arms that were crossed behind his head and eyes gently closed.
This was the first time he saw Riku resting so peacefully, and that strange feeling from his first day of school came pooling into his stomach. Sora frowned as the feeling filled him. He shouldn’t be feeling this or anything at all. The fact of the matter is that he was with Kairi, and Riku was with Taiyou. Kairi opened her heart in front of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people and to feel this way for another guy was wrong...right?
"Are you ready to go?"
Sora watched as Riku sleepily rubbed his eyes and let out a yawn, stretching his arms out at the same time. Sora couldn't help but notice how insanely cute this gesture was. He let out a growl mentally. ~I have to ignore this kind of stuff...~
"Yea," Sora replied weakly. He sighed as he covered his face with his hands. "Let's go."
"Ok. I'm taking you back to the hospital."
Sora's head snapped up, his eyes narrowing and his breath beginning an irregular pace. "No. We can't."
Riku started the car before looking to Sora. "You need to see Kairi and talk to her. Stop avoiding it."
Stepping on the gas, Riku zoomed out of the vast parking lot and onto a small street as a shortcut to the hospital. Sora glared at him fiercely. "If I remember correctly, she was the one who didn't want to see me."
Riku winced slightly at the iciness in Sora's tone, but his answer was given back with just as much ferocity. "And you need to fix that before your relationship with her collapses."
"Don't tell me what I should or shouldn’t do, Riku!" he yelled, reaching for the steering wheel in a blind rage. "I told you I got it covered!"
Riku kept one hand on the steering wheel while using the other hand to fend off Sora's fumbling one. "What the hell is your problem?!" he snarled, throwing Sora a death glare while trying to keep his eyes on the road. "You probably don't know what you're going to do. You looked like a deer in headlights when the doctor asked you to leave the room!"
Sora growled and yanked the Riku's hands off the steering wheel completely. He pulled to the side of the road, forcing Riku to slam on the brakes to avoid a parked car. "Fuck you, Riku. You don't know what I'm going to do about Kairi."
Unlocking the door, Sora attempted to get out only to be stopped by Riku's arm pulling the door shut and his other arm resting on the lock/unlock button. "Only because you didn't tell me. Why won’t you tell me, Sora?"
"Because I don't...want to trust you."
Riku was slightly taken aback at the comment, but nevertheless stayed quiet, waiting for him to continue.
"That is what my family was built on. Trust. The most important characteristic that someone can have is trustworthiness. I grew up on those beliefs; that if someone had that quality, then they’re the people you should be around; befriend. Kairi was that person back in elementary school. My secrets were always safe with her, and I knew that for as long as we were best friends - which back then I thought would be forever - she would keep my secrets. She was like my safe, storing all the things that I couldn't leave in the open. It was that characteristic that drew me so close to her."
Sora paused, stopping all struggling and letting out a deep sigh. "Then came middle school. The time where everything in my life went from good to bad. Kairi went to a summer camp for cheerleading and I went to a
baseball camp. We didn't see each other until the first day of middle school. I had gotten slightly taller, but that was pretty much it. For Kairi, she had completely changed. She came back taller, more developed, braces off, and contacts in. Skimpier outfits and designer accessories added to the makeover. She was a different person, not the wear-whatever-was-comfortable girl I knew in elementary. On that day, my trust was broken for the first time. We promised each other to be together forever no matter what, and she broke that promise for her reputation."
"I was heartbroken, to say the least. I was naive and didn't understand the 'groups' of middle school. Sixth grade past and seventh grade came, Kairi growing even more popular while I remained alone. Until I met Irvine. He was the first person who actually cared about me and I instantly recognized the same trustworthiness I saw in Kairi. Like a moth to a flame, I was drawn to his group, this group of eight graders who so graciously decided to take me under their wing. I admired them, and they ended up shattering what was left of my trust once more. Ever since that time, I worked so hard to shut myself up and keep private, letting people only see the surface. Then you came."
Riku opened his mouth to say something, but Sora rested a single finger on his lips to silence him. A small sad smile appeared on his face as he stared deep into Riku's sea green eyes. His voice dropped to a whisper. "The walls I carefully constructed were tore down by you with such ease and I still don't know how or why. I want to tell you everything, but I can't do that again, Riku. I can't set myself up again because I don't know if I'd have the strength to pick up the pieces again."
Grabbing the finger that rested on his lips, Riku pulled it toward him to bring Sora into an embrace. He put his mouth to Sora's ear and whispered as Sora had. "When I said that I'd be the shoulder you cry on, I meant every word. I'm not going to build up your trust then knock it right back down."
He felt nails digging into his back, but he ignored the feeling. "I have a characteristic that I grew up believing in too and that is loyalty. I will be there for you through thick and thin, as long as it doesn't involve murder or drugs."
Riku heard a muffled laugh and felt slight trembling as he shifted his weight to get a good look at Sora. The younger boy was on the verge of tears, but a weak smile adorned his face as he wiped the tears gathering on the corners of his eyes. "And to think," the younger boy began, looking up at Riku, "I wanted to pick up a bag tonight."
Riku blinked twice just out of pure shock, but as soon as he heard Sora burst into laughter, he couldn't help but laugh himself. Sora's laugh, after all, was contagious. The two boys leaned against each other, still laughing, the events to come not even grazing their minds.
^*^
"Kairi, we're all here. No one is going to hurt you in any way, shape, or form."
Taiyou rubbed the back of the trembling bundle in smooth, slow strokes while hugging her the best he could. Kairi had been this way ever since Sora ran out of the room, claiming that she wasn't good enough for Sora anymore. She wasn't the only one who felt the effects of that intense moment. The outburst from Kairi had shaken everyone up, and once again, Kairi's mother had fainted from the heartbreaking sight. Aki's carefully sculpted emotionless mask had broken the moment he laid eyes on his sobbing sister, and his tears haven't stopped from that moment. Since Sora and Riku left, everyone’s condition has steadily become worse than they were before. Even Dr. Miyazaki was slightly stumbling under the heavy burden placed upon his heart.
It was evident by the numerous cups of coffee he kept drinking.
To an outsider's view, it seemed as if Taiyou was the only one coping. Truth be told, he was taking this as hard - if not harder - than everyone else. Kairi was like a little sister to him. Kado had taken this way too far, and a fight with an underclassman shouldn't have sparked such a violent and unnecessary act.
There was no excuse.
"T-Taiyou...?"
Taiyou looked down, immediately, gently brushing some of Kairi's sweat-covered strands out of her face. The calling of his name sparked everyone's attention, and the room grew deathly silent as everyone focused their undivided attention to Kairi. "Yes, Kairi?"
"S-sora hates me now, doesn't he? H-he was r-right. S-sora doesn't like damaged goods! [1]"
It was as if the gates of hell opened right in front of their eyes, unveiling never-before-seen horrors; that statement sent everyone over the edge. Most were split between whether to kill or cry for all the suffering this poor girl had to go through. Taiyou never felt so angry in his life, and the rage he felt was only the surface of what he really was feeling. He wanted to see Kado tortured in many ways. Killing him quickly wasn't an option. "He will never hate you, Kairi," he answered, his voice wavering due to his ignited rage and sadness. "Don't believe anything Kado says."
He firmly planted a kiss on her temple as he scanned the room to see the reaction of the others. Aki's tears stopped all together, and he stared blankly ahead of him like his soul had been ripped from the very core of his body. Dr. Miyazaki shook his head in sadness while gathering Mrs. Tatewaki into his arms.
Her sobbing caused her knees to buckle.
Taiyou let out a deep sigh and continued to rub Kairi's back, while looking out the window that lay to his right. Where Sora and Riku went, he didn't know, but he prayed that everything would come out the best it could. How was this situation going to be solved? Will Kado pay for what he did? Will Sora and Kairi's relationship bridge the newly-formed gap? For the first time in a long time, Taiyou didn't know. He didn't know the answer to anything, and because of this he felt helpless, weak, and pitiful. ~If the only thing I can do it comfort Kairi, then that is what I will do with the best of my ability.~
^*^
[1] If you didn't read the unedited version of chapter seven, that is what this statement is referring to. Kado said, "Let's see if Sora wants damaged goods."
^*^
Trials and Tribulations
Chapter Nine
Part Two
His heart was pounding. Sweat veiled his face in a thin sheen as his breath increased drastically and his legs became filled with lead. All this was the cause of him walking towards the last place he wanted to be. The hospital.
It took every ounce of strength, courage, and determination to keep himself from running away from that building with his tail between his legs - not that he could go anyway because Riku had a firm grip on his wrist. The mere thought of going back in that room to see Kairi trembling on the hospital bed, screaming that he couldn't see her was heart-wrenching and hope-shattering. If Kado hadn't beaten him up when he accidentally ran into him, none of this would have ever happened. Riku and Sora would have never kissed, which in turn, scrambled their thoughts, and Kairi would have kept her popular status and never gotten involved...
So many things wouldn't have happened, and everyone would be peaceful.
"Is it just me or are you gaining weight each time we take a step closer to this building?"
Warily, Sora looked at Riku, who was smirking as he continued to drag Sora forward. The smirk soon turned into a serious expression. "I know this is hard for you, Sora, but it's not going to go away if you leave it alone."
Sora only glared at him in response to the statement as he dredged forward through the hospital doors. The receptionist at the front desk recognized them instantly, and she only acknowledged their presence with a
nod and a small smile. Both of them returned the smile to be polite.
Making their way up to room 211, Sora started to feel the effects of the situation full-force. It made him sick to his stomach that Kairi had to be dragged into this, especially when the fight wasn't all that serious. If Kado had gotten angry about being in trouble from the fight, he should have confronted him directly, not taken it out on someone who has nothing to do with the fight. It was cowardly, shameful, and degrading.
Riku felt even more resistance as the pair of boys got closer to Kairi's room. He turned around and spotted immense fear with a blend of anger in Sora's eyes. Even though Riku said that he would be there to comfort Sora whenever he needed him, in a way, he felt helpless to do anything. This was a situation that had to be healed more mentally than physically, and only the person experiencing the mental pain can help themselves. It was as if he was standing on a dock, watching his friend drown in his own misery because he's in too much pain to try to get out and there was nothing he could do about it. What are you suppose to do in that type of situation? The
thought of watching two of his friends get killed off slowly on the inside at the same time was unbelievable.
The room was now in front of them, but no one made the effort to go inside. For Sora, walking inside would be committing himself to solve a problem he had no control over, and for Riku, walking inside would mean
he would have to watch that slow process of mental murder, not being able to do anything about it. Riku knew that going in that hospital room was inevitable, so he turned about and entwined his fingers with Sora's,
giving them a reassuring squeeze. The color had once again drained completely out of Sora's face, giving him an eerie, pale, ghostly look that sent shudders down Riku's spine. His sapphire eyes dimmed down greatly,
and his muscles tensed. The reassuring squeeze did nothing but direct Sora's attention to Riku. "Are you ready?" Riku asked as he reached for the doorknob.
Breathing in deep and closing his eyes for a split second, Sora nodded in response, repeating Riku's words over and over in his head like a mantra.
'It's not going to go away if you leave it alone. It's not going to go away if you leave it alone.'
Riku twisted the knob and opened the door fully, looking about before stepping into the room. If the mood wasn't dark and dismal before, it was now seeing the faces of everyone in the room. Aki was a stone, blandly looking out the window and showing no reaction to anything; a much different quality to the happy college student he saw earlier. Ayaka was sitting in a chair near the bed with her head rested against her hand and her eyes closed. Both of their faces were drawn, their slightly rosy cheeks stained with dried tears. Taiyou was actually on the bed holding Kairi, who was but a still bundle laying against his chest. His shoulder length light brown hair was disheveled to say the least and his amber eyes dulled down from the last time he saw him. Taiyou turned around and looked at the entwined fingers of Riku and Sora before looking back up at Riku. Riku could tell that Taiyou was tired, and he motioned Taiyou to come to him. Releasing his hand from Sora's, he placed the same hand on Sora's back and nudged him forward as he walked. Taiyou was in the process of untangling himself from the awkward position Kairi put him in and in a matter of minutes he was by Riku's side, waiting for Sora to step forward. Hesitantly, the younger boy began to inch his way forward toward the bed, climbing onto it as softly as possible. He held Kairi to his chest and looked down. She was already awakening from her semi-peaceful slumber, causing his nerves to set on fire. Her sleepy lavender [2] eyes met his frightened sapphire eyes and for a moment, they just stared at each other, unable to say or do anything.
As if testing the waters, Sora lifted his hand and brushed it lightly across her cheek. She closed her eyes instantly at the soft touch, then recoiled back as if the touch was forbidden. "N-No, Kairi," Sora pleaded softly as he tightened their embrace. "P-Please don't shut me out. P-Please..."
Her eyes shot open as she felt the body she was crushed against start trembling, yet there was no wetness on her gown. "R-Remember when we were kids, and I was Sora the Monster Slayer and you were Kairi, Treasure Huntress Extraordinaire? I would kill all the bad monsters, and you would collect the treasure?"
Tears glistened in Kairi's eyes as she remembered the memories of her childhood with Sora. They were inseparable, never to be separated by anyone or anything. It was true, Sora the Monster Slayer and Kairi, Treasure Huntress Extraordinaire would always row to their island, making up adventures and new treasures to find. If there were any monsters in the area, you could always count on Sora to slay the evil monster. And if there was any treasure, you could always count on Kairi to find it. Sora’s embrace tightened reassuringly around her. "We could do that now, Kairi. Just you and me; I'll get rid of all the bad monsters, and you can collect the treasure."
"Sora, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry!"
Kairi dug her face into Sora's shoulder, new tears spilling off her cheeks. He only held her more in response, his own tears dampening her gown.
Riku inhaled deeply and turned around to wait outside. Taiyou followed him, and together they walked to the small waiting area a couple of rooms down. Plopping on the nearby couch, Riku wasted no time lying down and covering his face with his hands. Taiyou walked in front of Riku and kneeled down, stroking his hair idly as he watched his boyfriend rest. Riku uncovered his face and brought Taiyou into a hug, replaying the intense moments shared between Sora and Kairi. "No one deserves this, Taiyou. No one."
Taiyou kissed Riku on the forehead and the temple before leaning into Riku's hair. "I know, Riku, came his muffled response, I know.”
~Midnight~
"Contacts?"
"Check."
"Hair?"
"Check."
"Outfit?"
"Check."
"Rope?"
"Check."
"And...handcuffs?"
"Check."
"How do I look?"
Indeed, Sora did look like a completely different person. With the amethyst contacts and his straightened, dyed black hair, he looked like the stalker he was trying to be. The six inch heeled boots made him look like a grown man, and the black cloak hide everything except the last two inches of each boot. Slim black gloves - courtesy of Riku - covered his hands and a little of his mother's concealer made him look slightly darker than he usually is. Riku still couldn't get over the hair. With it straightened, his hair reached the top of his shoulder blades, which is quite long considering they were originally in spikes. ~How was his hair going to go back to spikes anyway...?~
"My hair can never stay straightened for a long time," Sora responded with ease to Riku's nonverbal question. "My hair will be spiky again within the week."
Riku shrugged as he fixed the police uniform he wore, complete with badges and a plastic gun. The fact that he dyed his hair light brown and put in icy blue contacts says how far he'll go for Sora.
To him, this was pretty far. "You look good, Riku."
Riku looked up and caught Sora scanning over his body. "You look like a true police officer."
Smirking, Riku tipped his hat to the side, then saluted, causing both of them to laugh shortly. He checked his watch and walked to Sora's window. Expertly climbing out, Riku slid down the nearby tree and ran to the car, motioning Sora to come down. Sora held up his finger to request that he held on for a few minutes while he checked over the final details. Kado got the letter for sure since he and Riku watched Kado read it, and everything else was pretty much flawless. He was missing only one more thing. Getting on all fours, Sora lifted the flap of his comforter up and grabbed a small box under his bed. He lifted the cover to reveal a sharpened butcher knife in its sheath. Grabbing the knife, he stuck it in one of the many deep pockets the cloak had and climbed out the window, sprinting to the car, and getting inside. Riku drove off to their destination: an alley behind Destiny Island's bookstore.
"You never did tell me what you were actually going to do while I play watchdog," Riku said smoothly, keeping his eyes on the road.
Sora looked to Riku and flashed him a demonic version of his trademark smile. "Don't worry, Riku. I got it covered."
Riku only shook his head, initiating another period of silence. The alley wasn't that far away, and within the ten minutes that they left, they arrived. Riku parked the car along the side of the road, and both of them got out; Sora began straightening his cloak. He practiced walking in the boots ahead of time so that he wouldn't trip and make a fool of himself, so he stepped forward with confidence and pride. The sky was pitch black and very few stars were out to dot the blanket of darkness. One streetlight was on about one and a half blocks away, giving some light to the empty street, but not much. Sora could see that Kado was already there, pacing back and forth as if he were preparing himself for a fight.
That's not really what he should be preparing himself for.
Riku ran directly to his hiding spot while Sora wasted no time and ran to his unsuspecting victim, bringing the rope smoothly from his cloak pocket and wrapping it around the wrist of the upperclassman. Kado let out a surprise shriek as he fell to the ground, automatically struggling to get free from the bounds that held his arms together. Sora tied the knot on his wrist tight, then threw the rest of the rope up through a fire escape above, grabbing it and yanking downward. Kado let out a pained cry as he was lifted only a few feet above the ground. Riku secretly grabbed the remaining rope and tied it down to a pole near the side of the bookstore. Moving back into his hiding place, Riku watched the unknown part of Sora's plan unfold.
Sora cleared his throat and prepared to change the tone. It was a little known fact, but Sora loved making imitations, thus, improving many different dialects. He had been practicing this afternoon to get back in the swing, and he came up with the perfect tone for this 'character.' "Perhaps the most ludicrous thing you have ever done in your entire pathetic excuse for a life, Kado, is mess with the Tatewaki family," Sora stated in a voice that was cool, calm, and slightly deeper than his own.
Kado struggled to get loose, his fear evident by the constant swaying of his hanging body. "I-I don't know what you're talking about!"
Sora whipped out the butcher knife and held it to Kado's throat, smiling eerily as he watched the blade pierce the skin. "If you want to live, then I suggest you don't act like a damned fool!"
Whimpering, Kado tried to stay deathly still to avoid the knife from piercing his skin any further. Sora took his silence as response to the threat and removed some of the pressure on Kado's neck. Using the hand that was free, Sora pulled out some handcuffs and snapped them on Kado's ankles just in case he got the idea to kick. He moved the knife to one of Kado's arms; his gaze still locked on Kado. "Why did you sexually assault Kairi Tatewaki?"
Kado hadn't even heard the question, too wrapped up in his fear to say anything except the question that came tumbling out of his mouth unexpectedly: "Where is Sora?"
Sora sliced one of his arms swiftly, a thin line of blood to emerging from the deep, excruciating cut. Bringing the bloodied knife back to the neck of the boy whose mouth was twisted into a soundless scream, Sora glared at him hatefully. "You are in no position to ask foolish questions, boy. I could have killed you already, but I made the decision not to, so I suggest you not irritate me further."
Silence was his only response, and he smirked before a serious expression adorned his face. "Now I will repeat the question for this one time: Why did you sexually assault Kairi Tatewaki?"
"B-Because she's Sora's girlfriend and I wanted to hurt him since he hurt me."
It took every last shred of his sanity to not slice this boy in two. Eyes flashing with a silent rage he questioned, "He hurt you? And just how, pray tell, did he hurt you?"
"He turned my father against me!"
Sora was no longer paying attention as he brought the butcher knife to Kado's other arm and slicing as he did the first one. Kado threw his head back in pain with teeth clenched in order to silence himself. He didn't dare scream for fear of his life. All his muscles tensed before they went limp; tired from the hanging and the excruciating pain he felt. Sora felt the tension and almost laughed.
He was loving every second of this.
Trailing the knife down Kado's body, Sora quickly ripped the button off Kado's jeans and unzipped his zipper slowly but surely. He heard a choked gasp above him and chuckled at the sound coming from the upperclassman.
"Don't worry, boys intrigue me, but I rather fuck the devil than fuck you. Well, in this case, I'd be fucking myself if I fucked the devil."
Sora threw his head back and laughed, but not so loud that it would actually cause attention. He felt Kado trembling under his touch, but he was far from caring. He reached into the older boy's boxers and pulled out his member, placing the knife at the base of it. He brought the knife back and forth-gently enough as to not draw blood, ripping a strangled cry from Kado.
"Hello? Is anybody down here?"
Sora cursed silently before he jabbed the key into the shackles around Kado’s ankles and released the cuffs. He then pulled the knife away from him and used it to cut the rope, causing Kado to fall harshly to the ground. Grabbing him by the collar, he stated, "I suggest you run, and if you speak of this to anyone, I will find you and I will kill you. That's not a threat, it's a promise."
Kado scrambled to his feet and ran as fast as he could, Sora watching him disappear into the dark of the night. He turned around and headed back to the car and dropped the bloodied knife back into the pocket in his cloak. He would deal with it later.
Riku came from around the corner, eyeing Sora suspiciously as he too headed to the car. "What did you do, Sora? It was way too dark to see anything from where I was, and all I heard was you guys talking."
Sora got in the car and flashed Riku his trademark smile. "Don't worry about it, Riku. I covered it."
^*^
Finished! Long, long chapter for you people, so review! Constructive criticism welcome.
~MercuryGoddess~