The New Me

Chapter 32

A/N: I just want to start out by saying, OMG, it’s almost done! Really, like four chapters left after this update. I’m going through and spell checking them. >_< And when the AFF staff has finished moving everything around, I’ll tack this all back onto the rest of the story.

So you’re probably like, dude, sites been down for a while, why isn’t it done? Well….this is a KH fic…and KH2 did come out…and I might not own a copy, but my friends, who live just below my dorm room do…and I like…live there now…and can’t stop playing….and yea…They want their TV back, I can tell, but they can’t have it. I must finish! Only three boss fights from the end!! I hate proud mode!! ARG! I die so quickly!! V_V

So any hoot, the rest of the story! Gonna go get back on KH2 now.


Riku sat outside the court room on a little bench. He was angry to say the least. He knew Sora had done a bad thing about lying to everyone, but at least he stopped. Kairi was still in there, lying to everyone about what she knew and didn’t know. He crossed his arms and huffed.

‘If they believe her…they might take Sora away...’ he looked down at his feet, ‘But if they don’t, they might take Kairi away…I feel like I lose no matter what happens.’

He looked up when he heard the court room door open. To his surprise he saw Kairi come out accompanied by her father and lawyer. They were followed by Wakka, Tidus, and a few of the watchers from the court room. Everyone gathered and chatted in the hall, save for Kairi and company, they seem to have disappeared. Riku looked around, trying to figure out why Kairi was crying.

He stood up and walked through the little crow over toward the door; just as he reached it, it swung open to reveal Naminé and Selphie.

“There you are!” Naminé grabbed his hand and pulled him in. “I think you need to talk to Sora.”

“What…why?” The girls pointed to Sora, who still sat in his chair, his head down, and his shoulders shaking. His mother and Ansem seemed to be no where in the room. Ansem must have needed to talk to Marie. Riku examined Sora from a distance for a moment, before walking forward.

He knelt down next to the boy and patted him on the back. Sora shook his head in response and wrapped his arms over his head.

“Sora…what’s wrong?” Riku whispered to him. Sora sniffled and shook his head again.

“Everything’s wrong…Just…everything…”

“What do you mean? Why are you so upset?”

“Because Kairi-”

“Kairi! What did she say after I left!?” Sora lifted his head once he heard the anger in Riku’s voice. To Riku’s surprise, Sora’s face was stained with dry tears.

“She only said the truth Riku! I really hurt her! All this time we’ve been laughing it up, acting like she’s the bad guy, but she’s right. I’m the person at fault here! Not her! Look what I did! I turned you and all your friends against each other…” Sora looked down at the floor. “I even turned your family against you…and my mom, I do nothing but make her worry…I caused all this trouble…I really hurt everyone.”

Riku looked at Sora a little startled. The boy was crying again, though the tears were very soft and very few, the point is he was. And now he was rambling about how he had hurt everyone…Good grief just what did Kairi say?

“I lied to my friends…to you…I ruined everything! Kairi is right Riku! When this is all over, no matter what happens, everything is ruined…and it’s all because of me…”

Riku shook his head and placed a hand on Sora’s shoulder, “Is that what you think?” he leaned in and tilted Sora’s face to look at him. “If you really feel like taking the blame, fine. I’ll admit you did some fucked up things.” Sora’s eyes lowered and he pressed his lips together; Riku placed both his hands on Sora’s cheeks and made him look up again, “But don’t you dare take all the blame! Kairi’s the one who chose to hit you! She’s the one that chose to leave you, alone and bleeding in the cave. She’s the one that chose to lie about you attacking her. In the grand scheme of things, her lies and actions are worse than yours. You’re both at fault, but don’t you dare think that it’s your fault she’s miserable.”

Sora looked back at Riku in silence. He had stopped crying, but now he felt confused. Was Riku mad with him, or not? Was he mad with Kairi or not? Did he still want him, or not?

“Riku…?” He whispered and the other boy sighed. He pushed Sora over a little to sit in the chair with him.

“Sora, I don’t know what to tell you. This is all horrible. I don’t really want anything bad to happen to you or Kairi, but if this keeps on, no matter what the outcome, everything’s changed.”

Sora looked down at his hands and sighed. He didn’t know what to do anymore.

The two sat there for what seemed like and endless amount of time, before the doors to the court room opened and the people came back in. Riku stood up and looked down at Sora who didn’t meet his gaze. He frowned and looked ahead in time to see Ansem and Marie walk back into the room. He walked past them and took his seat with Naminé and Selphie.

“So…what’s wrong with Sora?” Selphie asked.

“He’s just feeling a little down…” Riku nodded and watched as Tseng led Kairi back up to the stand. He told the judge they were ready to continue.

Kairi looked out at the crowd and then over to Sora, she couldn’t help but feel a little smug when the boy looked away from her.

“Now, Kairi,” she turned to Tseng, “The last thing you said, was that Sora told you he didn’t care about Riku correct?”

“Yes.” She nodded.

“So then, after that, what did you do?”

She took a deep breath, “I was angry…like today. I started yelling at him. I started threatening him. I told him…I told him I would tell.” She looked up and out into the room, “I told him I would tell everyone what he was if he didn’t stop…and…and….he became angry.”

Tseng nodded, “What did Sora do once he became angry?” Kairi looked downed and remained silent. “Kairi? What did Sora do?”

She sat like that for a while. When she had stared out into the room, despite trying to avoid it, she had met eyes with Riku. She bit her lip and began to speak, “He tried to grab me…He yelled at me, that I couldn’t tell anyone…that it wouldn’t work anyway.” She looked up with a blank look on her face, “He pulled on me…and then shoved me down…I was afraid of what would happen,” She looked down at her hand and inspected it with the same blank look, “so I reached out and grabbed the first thing my fingers touched…”

“And then you struck him?”

She looked up seemingly confused, before nodding, and answering yes.

Riku fixed his eyes on Kairi, he couldn’t read her face. But he could guess what she was thinking. Maybe she was so wrapped up in the fact that Sora was a boy, she believed what she just described. She seemed, out of it, as opposed to a few minutes ago when she was beyond enraged. He sighed and slumped a little in his chair. No matter what happened, things would be different.

Shortly after her spacey description of the events in the Secret Place, it was Ansem’s turn to question Kairi. However, during the start of her second testimony, Sora had been thinking about what Riku said. He had been thinking about what Kairi said, and about what he had done. He knew, that no matter what happened, when the trial was over, either he or Kairi would be lost. Either way Riku would lose. The only answer was to stop. But he didn’t know how.

So when his hand shot out to grab Ansem as the man stood up, he was at a loss. He looked up into Ansem’s golden eyes with a lost look on his face, as if to convey he hadn’t quite thought this all the way through yet. But the man just signaled the judge, and leaned forward.

“Yes, Sora?”

“I…I want to stop.”

“What?”

“I want to stop,” he repeated. Ansem shook his head and sat in his chair.

“I don’t understand, what do you mean?”

“I want to stop hurting her. I want to stop hurting everyone. I just want to stop.”

“What’s wrong?” Marie leaned over the little wall separating her from her son and his lawyer. “Sora, are you alright?”

“He say’s she wants to stop…what ever that means.” Ansem looked at her.

“Stop? Why? Are you sick?” Marie touched his forehead.

“No, Mom, I just want to stop this, all of this!”

“Is something wrong, or will we be continuing today?” The judged asked. Ansem looked at Sora and back at the judge.

“Sora, let’s talk about this later ok?” Ansem stood up and this time got away before Sora could grab him again. Sora watched disheartened as Ansem approached Kairi, and again he had another incomplete thought.

By now, everyone in the court room was watching, trying to figure out why he was holding things he up. So when he suddenly stood up after his lawyer walked away from him, they weren’t too startled.

The judge on the other hand didn’t seemed to pleased with the interruptions.

“Yes, young man, what’s the problem now.”

Sora froze, why did he stand up? “I…I want to stop.” Ansem and Marie stared at him. What was he doing?

“Stop?” The judge repeated.

“Yes, I want to stop, all of it.”

“Do perhaps mean, drop your charges against the girl?”

Sora paused before nodding dumbly, “Yea, sure….I just want to stop.”

Riku opened his eyes wide in shook. He was sure he heard Naminé and Selphie make some kind of noise, and it didn’t take long for people to start buzzing in their seats.

“Your honor,” Ansem spoke, “He doesn’t mean that…he’s just, confused.” Ansem looked at Sora, who now had his mother’s hands on his shoulders as she tried to get him to sit. Sora wrestled with her and pulled away.

“I do so mean it! Dropping the charges will make this stop right! I don’t want anything bad to happen to her any more!”

Riku looked around as the whispering in the room got louder. Tseng was fixed on Sora, ready to stand himself; Kairi was staring at her parents; and Wakka was looking over at him. His face didn’t give anything away, but Riku nodded as if to agree anyway. The two turned back to Sora. Marie was now out of her seat trying to get Sora to sit, but her son kept moving away from her and over to the judge.

“Do you know what you’re saying?” he asked. “Even if you drop your charges, there are still ones held against you.” Sora stopped moving away from his mother, who took the opportunity to grabs him by the arm. Ansem grabbed the other and they pulled Sora back to his seat. Just as Ansem was turning around to apologize another incomplete thought of Sora’s made itself known.

He looked at Kairi and blurted out to her, “You drop your charges to, Kairi.” The girl looked at him wide eyed as if he was joking. He spun his head around to her father, “Mr. Akai, I know you don’t want Kairi hurt, but we’re hurting everyone if we continue. Please, I just want to stop. I promise I’ll do better.” He turned back to Kairi, “Kairi, please, if you really want Riku, jus-”

Marie clamped her hand over Sora’s mouth. Ansem approached the judge and they whispered back and forth. Finally Ansem turned around and walked over to Marie, he leaned over to tell her something; she nodded, and stood up tugging on Sora’s arm. Without another word from either of them, she led him out of the room.

“Sora Hikari what’s wrong with you!”

Sora looked down at his feet. His mother had taken him from the court room into a little waiting room, where they now sat while she yelled at him.

“Sora, I thought we had an agreement, no more trouble from you! And then you make with random out burst in court! You’re lucky the judge is so understanding.”

“I’m sorry…” he mumbled.

“You’re sorry?” She looked at him harshly, “You’re sorry. That’s all you can say for yourself?”

“I just…I don’t know. I don’t want to do this anymore. I don’t want this trial to end.” He looked up at his mom, “I know you just want to set everything right…but the way things are going, they won’t be. You and the parents might be pleased, but, everyone else…everyone else will be miserable if something happens to Kairi.”

Marie shook her head, “Sora…” She walked over to her son and stroked his hair. Just as she did there was knock at the door. She rolled her eyes and walked over. Ansem stood in the doorway.

“The judge wants you, me, Tseng, and Mr. Akai to meet in his chambers, now.” Marie took a deep breath before looking over at Sora. He was looking at them, obviously listening.

“Alright.” Marie, walked out with Ansem and shut the door.

Sora sat on his own, confused and a little depressed. He finally decided to get up after a few minutes. He opened the door and walked out into the hall, as soon as he did, he heard Naminé shout his name.

He looked over to see her, Selphie and Tidus come running towards him.

“Sora!” she said again, “I hope you got a stellar plan!”

“Umm…”

“Oh no, he’s clueless,” Selphie shook her head.

“That was nice of you,” Tidus spoke up, “To offer to drop your charges against Kairi. Most people aren’t that nice.”

“Yea really. Why drop your charges, her story – so unbelievable.” Naminé shook her head.

“Because…I don’t want to hurt Kairi. Or Riku. But if this keeps up-”

“If this keeps up things will be different, ya?” The group turned to see Riku and Wakka walking up.

“Really, Sora, this isn’t what I meant by sharing the blame. Not at all.” Riku said as he stopped in front of the other boy. “What’s gotten into you today?”

Sora looked down, “I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to lose Kairi….but,” he looked up, “I kind of don’t want to lose you either.”

Riku smirked, “Look Sora-”

“Riku,” he cut him off, “No matter what happens…even if Kairi goes away, or I go away, don’t let things change for you. Don’t become a new person, like I did. Ok?”

Riku stared at Sora for a moment, before nodding. He wrapped his arms around the younger boy’s shoulders and hugged him.

Naminé turned to Wakka and eyed him, “So...you and Riku calling it a truce?”

Wakka looked at her funny, “Who asked you, ya? Riku and I settled somethings sure.”

“So you’re finally accepting that Kairi lied?”

“I’ve always known she lied. All of us did, but someone had to stand by her or she’d fall apart.”

Selphie looked around, “So where is she now?”

“She stayed behind,” Riku let go of Sora who looked up at him, “Wakka and I went to talk to her.”

“About what?” Tidus asked.

“Everything.” Riku responded, “Including sharing the blame,” he sighed, “But she seemed hostile to the idea.”

“I told you she would be.”

Naminé shook her head. “She’s so stubborn. Even worse than you boys.”

“Yea,” Riku laughed, “But that’s why we were friends to begin with.”

“And,” Tidus spoke up, “We’ll be friends in the end right?”

“Right.” Riku smiled. Just as he did, he caught Kairi watching him out of the corner of his eye. He looked up at her and waved. She stared back at him blankly, but still walked over. However she walked right past him and right up to Sora.

She stopped in front of him and stared at him for a moment, “Why did you do that?”

“…Do what?”

“That! What you did in the court room?” She crossed her arms. Sora faintly smiled at her.

“Because I meant it…” They all stared at him, “I’m tired of all this mess. I want it to stop. I don’t want you and your friends to be split up over this…I mean, after all, I was split from my friends. And look what it did to me.” Sora put his hands out on Kairi’s shoulders and she looked at him dumbfounded, “Please, Kairi, I don’t want you and Riku to change. I’m sorry I interfered with you two. I really am…”

Kairi lowered her head for a bit, but then pushed Sora’s hands away. “And that’s supposed to make it all better?” She shook her head, “Don’t worry, Sora, I won’t change. I haven’t at all, but you being sorry isn’t going to set this right.”

Naminé cried out, “You are so stubborn! Can’t you see you’re being an ass!”

“Who asked you! Sora lied to everyone, he might want to drop his charges on me, fine. But it’s his fault, he SHOULD take responsibility for what he did.”

“Kairi,” Riku stepped between her and Sora, “It’s your fault too.”

She stared at Riku and shook her head. She opened her mouth to reply but was cut off when her father called her name. She turned to him and ran away, quickly looking over her shoulder to look at Riku, before leavening sight.

“Good grief…” Tidus shook his head.

“Don’t worry, we’ll talk to her.” Wakka put his hands on Selphie and Tidus’ shoulders, “Right?”

“Right!”

“What’s right?” The teens turned to see Ansem approaching with Marie. “Well?”

“Err, nothing Mom.” Sora smiled, “So what happened?” Marie and Ansem looked at each other before Sora’s mom spoke up.

“We’re done for the day…tomorrow, Ansem, Tseng, Mr. Akai, and I are meeting with the judge again. But for now…we can all go home.”

“You’re meeting with the judge again?” Riku made a questioning face, “Why?”

“We have our reasons. All you needed to know is that we may all have this settled by tomorrow.”

“Really?” Naminé looked glad.

“So, what’s going to happen to Kairi?” Tidus asked. Marie and Ansem looked at each other again. “We really can’t say what’s going to happen to Kairi or Sora.”

“OR Sora?” Riku made another face.

“Look, you should all go home. It won’t do you any good to ask questions now.” Ansem nodded. “Come on, Sora, let’s go.”

Naminé and Riku looked at each other, “Can we come?” He asked before turning to Marie.

“Riku I think it’d be best if your parents took you home.”

“Bu-”

“Considering yesterday, it’s really your only option.” Ansem pointed out. Riku sighed in defeat. He hugged Sora and stalked off to find his father.

“And Naminé-”

“Don’t worry about me ma’am. My parents are free spirited hippies. The only way hanging-out with Sora is going to get me in trouble is if talks about how global warming doesn’t exist.”

“Uh…” Marie made a blank face, but Naminé just smiled at her.

The other kids had gone home with their parents; Naminé got a ride back to Sora’s house with him, his mother, and Ansem. And Riku’s parents were behind them the whole time.

“…So you really don’t know what’s going to happen to me?” Sora asked.

“We don’t know dear…” Marie looked in the back seat at her son. “Though at the moment it doesn’t look like anything too bad is going to happen to you two.”

“So why the sudden change? Did Sora’s outburst really affect the judge that much?” Naminé asked.

“Yes and no…he was concerned that Sora wanted to drop his charges. However, he also pointed out it really wouldn’t do any good…as, in his opinion, he couldn’t see why Kairi’s story was so much more convincing.”

“Ha! I knew no one with brains would buy that story.”

“But it still doesn’t change the fact that they’re both in trouble. And we’re all still at trial here.”

“…So….what are you meeting with the judge for then? Shouldn’t the trial just carry on?” Sora looked out the back window at Riku’s car.

“The judge thinks it’s best that the lawyers and parents sit down and work this out…the most I can tell you is that it doesn’t look like anyone’s going to jail.”

“Oh, but she totally deserves to!” Naminé crossed her arms, and Sora laughed.

“My, little girl you shouldn’t talk li-” Ansem cut off his own words. As they pulled up to Marie’s house, the noticed a group of four people standing out on the lawn. “Um…Marie?” He asked as he started to slow down.

Marie looked out the window and shook her head, “It…can’t be…” Sora and Naminé looked out as well. And to Naminé’s surprise and everyone’s horror, Sora cried out and opened the car door. Ansem abruptly stopped as did Mr. Endo who was driving behind him on his way back to his own home. Riku and Naminé bolted out of their cars and watch Sora run the ten feet up the street to the four people standing around.

Riku watched, a little disheartened, and a little angry, as Sora jumped the remaining few feet into the arms of an older teenager screaming his name at the top of his voice.

‘So that’s Leon…’ he whispered.