Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction / Fan Fiction ❯ Akirame Norwen ❯ The Ultimate Revenge ( Chapter 6 )

Disclaimer: I don't own squat, except for Red, Jerdania, Vanna and Akirame, whom I bought as slaves in the black market for a darn good price. They're really good at washing the dishes.

CHAPTER 8

"ULTIMATE REVENGE"

I had already planned out what toppings I would get for my sundae as I walked toward the cafeteria. I pasted a smug look on my face as I walked in. Riku was the first to look up and see me. "Wow, that was fast. How'd you escape? Or is Erik smarter than he looks?" He called across the room.

I allowed the question to roll off my back. In the end, it would be more than worth it. I sweetly smiled as I approached their table, still standing. "Ingenious joke, guys. Really. But Riku, ya know, I think it's time we grew up and stopped trying to prove ourselves through pranks." I told him.

I knew that I was cutting his legs from underneath him. Riku's pride and joy were his pranks. They were the only time he felt he could loosen up, although he never confessed to them. "Are you calling me immature?" He asked me, now standing to match my gaze.

"No, just slow."

Mutters and laughs could be heard from other people in the cafeteria observing us. "Are you challenging me?!" Riku now asked.

Now I knew I had him hooked. Riku hated to have his "almighty" authority challenged, but lived to prove himself superior. I was about to teach him humility.

"I'm willing to bet that I could run the hiking trail in the woods faster than you. And, just to make things interesting, I'm willing to throw in a prize."

Riku looked at his friends who were cheering him on. "What's the prize?"

I leaned in closer to whisper in his ear, even though it didn't matter if anyone else heard. I was just making sure it looked real. "If I win, you have to kiss me. But if you win, I'll tell you anything you want to know."

I drew back and looked at Riku. For him, it was a win-win situation. There was no way he could possibly say no. "You're on. When's the race?"

"Right now. Follow me."

We walked out of the cafeteria followed by a small crowd of spectators who would wait at the finish line to see us off and make bets in currency of hot dogs and other things. The finish line was to be the overlook at the end of the hiking trail. I explained the rules and we got set. Irvine got out his shotgun and let Jerdania fire the starting signal, and where somewhat startled as a bird fell dead to the ground as I got off to a good start.

About halfway down the trail I began to "tire out" and slowed down somewhat, letting Riku pass me. I then slowed down even more and finally reached the overlook, charging at full speed only to find Riku leaning against the railing, his arms crossed, face serious. I had to bend over and catch my breath, hands on my knees. I quickly looked over at a patch of thick foliage next to the overpass and then back at Riku.

"Boy Riku, you've been getting stronger lately. What you been up to?" I asked him.

"I train extra hard at night."

"Huh… well, too bad you had to win." I stood up and walked over to him, leaning against the railing next to him, trying to play on his senses. "I really wanted that kiss." Those words were hard to choke down, but I'd never regret saying them.

"Oh really, well, seeing as to how we're alone…that shouldn't be too hard to arrange." Riku leaned over me, giving me a wicked smile drenched with evil. I couldn't believe I was actually trying to entice him like this.

"Well, I've never actually… ya know. I need you to close your eyes while I get psyched for it." I told him. Stupid excuse, but Riku was even dumber to fall for it.

I quickly stepped back as Erik silently emerged from the forest and stepped into my place for me. "I'm ready." I said as I stepped back to enjoy the show.

Erik, who was gratefully just two inches taller than me, tilted his head up and began to slowly, but passionately, kiss Riku, not resisting when Riku slowly wrapped him in his arms. (FF7 flashback, eh readers?) But my god, Riku was enjoying himself! I suddenly found myself squirming. Get it over with already, Erik! Riku then finally took a gloved hand and ran it through Erik's short, curly blonde hair. Then it hit him. He suddenly opened his eyes and stared into Erik's deep brown ones. Riku violently jerked back, releasing Erik. Riku's face was completely blank, his jaw hanging slightly open, his lips a little red. Erik winked and blew a kiss at Riku before turning to join me.

"So, how was he?" I asked him.

"Oh, he was great. I think shex-zy over there has had some experience in the finer art of kissing. Girl, you have got to get me his dorm room number!" Erik told me, making me laugh.

Riku was still standing there in shock. I turned to look at him. "Riku, I believe you've met cadet Erik Sandoval, my most recent acquaintance. Now Erik, how `bout that sundae you promised me?"

"Let's go." He said, linking arms with me as we walked away, taking a shortcut to the starting line, where a group of now very confused spectators as well as my friends were waiting.

"You might want to send a medic down there before Riku ends up in a coma from shock." I told them as Erik led me towards the cafeteria.

In the back of my mind I could envision my friends rushing down to assist the still shocked Riku, asking him what had happened. Some things in life truly are priceless, and for everything else there's sweet revenge.

Erik was the perfect gentlemen, holding the door open for me and paying for the huge sundae that we shared. I sat down across the table from him, laughing when I went to spoon up the last piece of brownie and Erik engaged in a brief battle with his spoon over it, trying to knock it out of my spoon as I tried to escape. We talked about nearly everything, how he was inspiring to one day to go on grand adventures, various pranks he had pulled off before… I hadn't noticed how quickly time had gone. Erik led me through the school toward the dorms, his arm still linked with mine. I sat down on the rim of a fountain, looking at the beautiful water lit by various colored garden lamps. "Erik, um… you know when you kissed Riku…"

Erik sat down next to me. "Yeah?"

"You're not actually… you know…"

"Oh, that?" Erik looked away to laugh. "Course not!"

"Oh, phew. Because, well, you looked like you were actually enjoying it and it made me assume for a moment that you were, well…yeah."

"Trust me, I'm not gay. It's just that when I help someone get revenge like that, I tend to put my heart into it, ya know? Besides, getting to spend the day with you like this is like a hundred fold reward."

I looked up to see Erik's lightly tanned face turned towards mine, the shimmering light from the fountain casting moving shadows over his dark eyes. Oh no. Not again… no, no, no, no, no, no! "So, we're friends then, right?" I asked him, trying to get into a more comfortable position.

"Of course. We've just met. But I wouldn't mind getting to know you better some time. So, what about Riku, is he like your boyfriend or something?" Erik asked.

I could pick up a hint of…hope in his voice. Hope for what? "No, not even close. He's been my friend ever since we were just little kids."

Erik seemed to relax and deeply exhaled. "Riku and I used to be much closer when we were younger, but when he got the idea into his head that we would leave the island one day… he just got sort of cold and distant, and he's been that way ever since. He never lets his emotions out anymore." I looked down at my hands and tried not to cry. What was I crying for? I hadn't lost Riku or anything… except that it felt like a part of Riku had died, and I'd never see it again, his heart warming friendship that I had known and treasured as a child… was gone forever.

Erik gently put an arm over my shoulders to comfort me. I suddenly had to take a deep breath and bit my lip, trying to hold in all of my feelings, and they began to leak out from under my tightly shut eyes. Erik then hugged me close, and I turned to bury my face in his shoulder, seeking out the same comfort Riku had once offered me in the same, loving friendly way. My sobs gently receded and Erik simply held me and rested his chin on my head, never saying anything. I looked up and could make out his face through the tears. His eyes were closed and his face was etched with compassion and concern… something it seemed that Riku could never offer me, not out here in public like Erik could… my heart felt torn… but why? I absolutely refused to every fall in love with anyone. But when Riku had hardened himself all those years ago, and had cut himself off from me and the rest of the world…

Had I actually been craving what Erik was giving me now all those years? And now Riku had recently found out that he had a window through me that he could open at times, but it wasn't like the friendship that we had once shared, now it was a deep, intimate love that I seemed to be unable to accept.

"Thank you Erik. I've needed that for a long time." I softly said, now giving him a simple hug before drawing back. I was relieved when he gently released his embrace.

"Hey, what are friends for, huh? You gonna be okay?" He asked me, offering an encouraging smile that was as genuine as his simple embrace.

"I could use another hug." I said, happy when Erik gave me a quick, loose embrace and released me again.

"So, what time is it?" He asked, looking at his watch.

"I think it's about…oh gosh, who knows?" I said, looking up at the open ceiling, admiring the stars that had come out in the midnight-blue sky.

"Well, it's almost time for curfew anyway. I'll take you to your dorm room." Erik said, now standing and helping me up.

"Thank you."

Erik seemed to be a man truly of his word, quietly guiding me toward my dorm room. I could hear Kairi and Vanna laughing about something through the door. I knew already that if I went in there now it would completely ruin the perfect mood that I was in right now. I turned to look at him, not wanting him to leave. "I wish you could come in and just, ya know, hang for a while." I said.

"Sorry, Akira, but Garden rules says no boys with the girls."

"Then how come Jerdania got to board with Irvine?" I asked, feeling annoyed.

"Irvine? Irvine Kinneas? I doubt it! That guy has so many restraining orders on him he must look like a message board!" Erik laughed.

The dorm room door opened and… Jerdania came out, nearly walking into us. "Oh, hey Akira! Who's the guy? New boyfriend?" She asked, winking at me.

"Ugh.. no. This is Erik, a friend I made. What are you doing here anyway?"

"One of the officials here made Irvine let me move."

"Wouldn't that qualify as kicking you out?"

"Well, at first it did, but Irvine refused to let me pack my stuff. He seemed pretty torn up about it, and I never got one of my T shirts back."

"Ah. So Irvine's at it again already! That would make you lucky number 567,498,890." Erik sarcastically said and was rewarded by a stifled laugh from me.

"Oh, come on. Irvine can't even take his mind off of me, and he's obsessed with me."

"He's obsessed with something." Erik cracked.

Erik was an admittedly cool guy, and I felt completely relaxed around him. What an awesome guy…. Woah! Almost went into screen saver mode that time. I quickly woke myself from my sudden reverie and walked into the dorm. "So, I guess I'll see you tomorrow, right?" I said, now standing in the doorway as Kairi and Vanna looked over my shoulders to check out the guy.

"Yeah, probably at breakfast. Well, gotta go." He then shook my hand and left.

Kairi, Vanna and Jerdania all stood together to oppose me after I closed the door. "Who was that?" Vanna asked, her arms folded.

"Ugh… geez! Erik, the guy who thought I was a prisoner of war."

"Oh, yeah, the guy who pulled off that kiss with Riku."

"He's not gay! He told me so! Besides, he's a really sweet guy, and he's friends with me." I said, trying to defend… me or him?

"Well, whatever. I just hope you know that Riku refused to say a single thing or do anything all day long. All he would do is train in the center. He refused to stop. He looked almost heartbroken." Kairi told me.

Oh no….