The New Me

DISCLAIMER: I don’t own these characters. Nor do I make any money off of them. The characters are property of their respective creators/companies.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Chapter 5

Once again, they gathered around their self proclaimed leader for another round of: ‘Here’s-how-we’re-getting-off-this-rock’. The three watched with wide eyes and blank faces, more so out of sheer boredom then amazement.

“OK now…” Riku continued to draw out plans in the sand, “I figure if we work nonstop, Wakka, Tidus, and me on the raft, and you girls on the supplies, we can spend our whole summer out on the sea…”

At this point Selphie rolled her eyes and made a spinning motion at her forehead. Wakka shook his head in agreement, but their mocking went unnoticed by the boy crouched over in the sand.

“Riku…” the third member leaned over, “do you really think we have time for this? I mean, we have finals this week…”

“Besides, you’ve been coming up with plans to leave the Islands for years, and not one of them has actually worked.” Riku stopped drawing in the sand and looked up at Selphie.

“Maybe…they’d work, if we didn’t have freeloaders in the group.”

“I am not a freeloader!”

“Yes you are.” Riku stood up straight now and ran out from the little circle and grabbed a vine off the rock face. He took it and began using it like a jump rope. “WOO! LOOK AT ME I’M SELPHIE!! I SKIP! I PLAY! I FALL ON MY ASS SOMETIMES BUT I NEVER DO WORK!!” and with that he took a fake dive forward into the water. Selphie expressed her anger in one loud scream before storming off.

“Oh, she’s definitely going to help now, ya?” Wakka turned to Kairi who shook her head in disappointment.

“He’s just…well, you know how he is. An adventurer at heart.”

“Apparently he’s a jerk at heart too…” Wakka muttered. Kairi was going to say something, but her words were cut off by Tidus as he came running through the stair hut.

“BOAT!” Riku looked up now from where he was still flailing about in the water pretending he was Selphie. “Really! A Boat!” Tidus stopped on the beach in front of Riku. “It looks like a cruise ship.”

“Oh…” he lay back down in the muddy sand, “Then its just tourist, more old people for melanoma to take down. Woo…”

“That’s a terrible thing to say!” Kairi had come over to hear him speak of the untimely deaths of the elderly, so she kicked sand in his face.

“Well….they’re just gonna die any way…”

“Riku, stop talking like that! What’s wrong with you?”

“What’s wrong with me, how about what’s wrong with you Kairi?” He stood up now brushing the wet sand off his clothes. “For a best friend, you’re not very supportive of my dreams.”

She huffed a little disgusted that Riku’s childish behavior resulted in such a lame ploy. They all watched him stalk off to the other side of the island. No doubt he’d get a look at the boat from the look out tower they’d built on the other side. He was predictable, after all, for as long as Kairi had known Riku, all he could ever bring himself to hope for was a one way ticket off their islands.

Once on the other side, Riku jumped down from the rise and landed with a splash in the water, he walked over sulking to the little look out area on the opposite bit of beach. He glanced over once or twice to get a look at the huge boat full of people coming to the island from the main land for the summer. Their summer vacation wouldn’t start for another week, but that didn’t stop Riku from making his plans. He was famous for them around Caspa. He and his friends.

They hung out on this island, Destiny Island, most of the time. Too small for developments and tourist, it was the perfect little playground for a bunch of kids. And on occasion, if he had a girlfriend for the summer, offered some of the best make-out spots amongst the island chain. A bright vibrant sun all year long, fresh breeze, cool air, the ocean, this place was a paradise; however it made him sick to his stomach to be here.

Once at the top of the look out tower, Riku picked up a little handheld telescope that they kept there. He opened it up and got a look at the boat, and let out a sigh when he read the commercial industry name on the bough.

‘Yep, more tourist.’ He put the telescope down and started to climb down, ‘Why do I even bother?’

“Any luck!!” Kairi’s cheery voice called out as he was half way down.

“No.” he let go and let himself drop the remaining two feet. “Just a cruise of old people, like I thought.”

“Well, cheer up! You’ll get your adventure someday!” She threw her fist in the air in a rallying motion. “If it won’t come to you, then we’ll go to it!”

“Oh, so now you support me?” he rose and eyebrow and tilted his head.

“I’ve always supported you. I just think we should wait. You know, how about the summer we finish High School, then we don’t have to come back before summer’s over.”

“Heh, that’s a great idea, except you’re a grade behind me…What will I do with the year off?”

“Help me in school?”

Riku threw his head back and laughed. “No way. Once I’m done, I’m done.” He started to walk back.

“Still, I would really go with you, even if the other’s wouldn’t.”

“You sure?”

“Yea, as a matter of fact,” she stopped walking, “I swear by this.”

Riku turned around and in front of him, on Kairi’s out stretched hand was a yellow, star shaped fruit. He stared at her for a moment before laughing. “You’re crazy. You don’t want to give me that, you don’t know where I’ve been.”

“So…we’re best friends. We should be together forever.”

“Yea…but...” he stared at her and shook his head, “You never wanted to before.” Riku scratched his head, but never took his eyes off Kairi. Finally he decided. “Give me your keychain instead.”

“What?”

“Your star shaped keychain. That way…That way you can stay on the island.”

“Riku…” she lowered her hand finally.

“Please, you want to stay and I want to go. I won’t drag you away from this place. But I’ll take a little bit of you with me…Here!” He took off his black bangle and gave it to Kairi. “There, now you have some of me too.”

She took it, reluctantly, and handed over her keychain. Riku smiled and turned around and headed back to the main beach. Kairi on the other hand stood with the little Paopu fruit still in her hand.

‘It’s all right. Summer’s just started…there will be other chances. Can’t avoid it forever, we were made for each other, after all.’


Chapter 6

With the sun setting, Riku and his friends made their way home. Kairi, Tidus, and he rode their bikes, Selphie skated along, and Wakka came up behind them on a skateboard. It was a Saturday afternoon, so they were busy chatting up plans on what to do for tomorrow.

“We could go to the movies.” Selphie suggested.

“I’m out of money, I can’t buy a ticket to the movie or for the ferry to get there…” Wakka shook his head pitifully.

“My mom wants me to study, and I’m sure Riku’s does too.” Kairi nodded her head in his direction.

“Pffft. Studying is highly overrated.”

“Well then, lets all do it together,” Tidus suggested, “That should bring it back to par right?”

“Yea, let’s do that! How about we meet at my house?” Kairi began to come up with suggestions of what snakes everyone should bring when Riku suddenly stopped. “What’s wrong?” Riku shook his head and pointed.

Up the street from the group was Riku’s house, and next to it, the vacant house that had been for sale for more then a year now. Only, it wasn’t vacant. The ‘For Sale’ sign was gone and in its place stood a new mail box someone had just put out. There was a large ‘U-Haul It’ van in the driveway, though it looked as if the movers were getting ready to leave. They were talking to a woman with long brown hair, dressed in a grey women’s suit. She appeared to be signing a check and seeing them off.

The group remained in their spot, three houses down from Riku’s as they watched the truck drive away and the woman walk up the steps of the house’s porch. She paused for a moment at the door and began having a conversation with someone on the other side of the screen. They couldn’t hear what was being said, but the lady pointed to her watch a few times and banged on the door with the pal of her hand. The door then opened slightly, and she leaned in. Here head was only inside for a moment, then she pulled back out walked down the porch and into the garage of the house.

Soon a car pulled out and the front door shut. As soon as the car was out of sight, Riku jumped off his bike and ran for the newly sold house. His friends called after him, but he didn’t care.

‘Front doors don’t close on their own! Front doors don’t close on their own! And unless she married an extremely short guy, she’s got a kid! A new Kid! NEXT TO MY HOUSE!”

He jumped up the porch steps and banged on the door.

Sora had only gotten to the base of his new stair case when he heard the bang at his front door. He cursed a little under his breath, but then correction himself, remembering Leon had told him not too. His mom had just left, with the clear instructions that he was to unpack as much of his stuff as he could on his own, and to stay put in the house. But more importantly he was not to let anyone in, and even greater still, he was to change out of that ‘ridiculous outfit’ Leon had given him.

He shook his head, they had been arguing about it since they got there. For the whole week long boat ride, Sora had been trying to figure out what to do with all his ‘other’ clothes. He couldn’t get rid of them, they had all come from his friends. But he hadn’t worn a single item of them since before his going away party. He had finally resolved to at least wear Leon’s out fit once, just once. So why not today? No one was going to see him. Just his mother and the movers, and some people at the docks.

None the less, his mother ranted and raved, and carried on drawing more attention to his appearance than he was. He probably could have gone through the entire docks without and one noticing he was a boy. He had taken the time to get his hair under control and pin it down with a red head band. He did his face, not to the point that Aerith would, but just enough, he even shaved, just so he could go the whole day without anyone really noticing…But that didn’t stop her, oh no.

About half way through her interrogation of random strangers, and what they thought of him, he finally decided she was acting this way solely because, it was Leon that had given him this dress. Now she wouldn’t even go check in at her new work she was so bent out of shape! She really did want to completely remove Leon from Sora’s life?.

‘Well I’ll show her. It’s my life. I was just gonna do it today, just today, then let it go. But if you’re so determined to ruin this for me…’ He stalked over to the door, ready to let his mother have it, he undid the latch and turned the lock. He pulled back on the door and let it swing wide open…

Riku was surprised the door opened so soon, and he was overjoyed to see the girl in the white and red dress behind the screen. He was not quite sure how to react at being on the receiving end of a slur of curses.

“I can’t fucking believe you won’t let it go! You’re such a damn busybody! He’s my fucking friend! Their my fucking clothes, and I’ll do what ever I fucking please with-” Sora bit his tongue, “You’re not my mother.”

“Um…yea. That’s how, you great your mom?” Riku smiled hoping a joke would smooth things over for a proper introduction, instead he got the door slammed in face.

“Well she seems nice,” Riku turned around to find Kairi behind him on the steps and the others just behind her.

Riku just shrugged and knocked again, a loud “Go away!” was the only answer this time.

“I can’t really do that you see!” He shouted through the door. “I’m your new neighbor!”

‘Well….damn.’ Sora thought, ‘So much for no one seeing me…’ he sighed and repeated his earlier statement.

“Why do you want me to go?” Riku called back.

“I’m not supposed to open the door…not today anyway.”

“Why are you grounded?” Kairi called out.

‘Crap a girl too! Well this is dandy…I can’t believe I just proved my mother right about making a fool of myself.’

“Well?”

“Kairi, do you mind. I was talking to her first.”

‘HER! HER! Oh come on now…I know the screens mesh is thick, but really?’

“Well sor-ry! I’ll just leave you to be alone with your new girlfriend then.” Sora listened to footsteps as they left the porch.

“Oh come on. Kairi, I was just saying…” but she was already getting on her bike and taking off toward home. Riku felt the urge to make a PMS joke, but fought it down since there was already a very angry girl on the other side of the door, or so he thought. “Hey, you guy’s want to go catch her for me?”

“Sure.” Tidus, Selphie and Wakka turned around and took off after their other friend leavening just Riku and the kid on the other side of the door.

“Ok then, it’s just you and me. Feel like opening up now?” There was no response, fearing the girl had fled deeper into the house Riku banged on the door again, this time he got a response

“Stop that! I’m right here.”

“Oh…well. Want to open up.”

“Sorry, I can’t. No strangers and all that jazz…”

“Oh.” He pondered the situation for a moment. “Well, what’s your name?” He stood there and when he didn’t receive an answer for five minutes he banged on the door again.

“SORA!” He finally got his response.

“Great. I’m Riku. Nice to meet you.” There was ‘humph’ from the other side. “Well, now that we’re not strangers…care to open up.”

“No.” This time Sora really did walk away from the door.

He wasn’t sure what Riku said next, but he was sure he had said something, because five minutes later he began banging on the door again. It kept for an hour straight. He bang for a while, then stop, and start again. Finally he left.

‘Persistent,’ Sora thought to himself. ‘I can’t believe he thinks I’m a girl…but maybe I can use this to my advantage. Riku, I thin you just provided me with a way home.’

Chapter 7

A/N: Thanks for the reviews. I guess I just wanted to explain my reasoning behind the fourth chapter. Its there because I wanted Leon and Sora to have a chapter to themselves, that was more about Leon’s feelings. Yea, it was kind of thrown in there and I did actually go back and add it, but Leon’s not going to be around for a while other than by name…so I thought he should get in his thoughts before the story moved on.

Sora stood on a stool in the new kitchen. He was cleaning out the cabinets before placing the dishes in them. Some had gotten broken on the way over in the van but that was to be expected.

“Now then,” his mother walked in the kitchen, “As soon as I find the box with the cooking utensils, we’ll have a real dinner instead of take out.” Sora nodded. He hadn’t really been speaking to his mother for the past three days. He was still upset about her open disgust for Leon’s dress, and was now even more upset that she pulled a three-sixty and became very sweet when he went back to wearing jeans and T-shirts. Somewhere in his mind he knew he was overacting too, she was just looking out for him, but he still held his grudge.

Since apparently Riku still had school to attend, Sora spent his time in the house, going through boxes and moving furniture. There wasn’t a lot of it, seeing as how they had had an apartment in Travers Town, but since his mother started work Monday, he had been unpacking all on his own. They were down to three boxes, and had just found the dishes; they had to use paper plates up until today.

But even while unpacking, Sora was spending his time working out a plan.

‘I’ll try to get that Riku kid to talk to me again over the weekend. He lives next door, and that group seems to follow him. I bet if I get him angry with me, or even just convince him I’m a freak cross dresser, he’ll spend his time bullying me.’ He started setting down the plastic lining they’d bought for the cabinets. ‘My mom might be afraid of me dating Leon, but even she wouldn’t keep me in a place that killed my self-esteem. And once she sees how miserable I am, I’ll write Leon and the others to come and visit.’

He looked over at his mom, who had found the cooking utensils and had begun clearing a place for them in a lower cabinet. ‘I’d better have him bring Aerith, she’s a good negotiator. I could even take living with Cid even if I can’t stay with Leon…but we’d be close. And that’s what matters.’

“So!” his mom spoke up, “Once you’re done here, what are you going to do?”

Sora shrugged, “I don’t know, maybe I’ll finish rearranging my room.” He put up the last dish. “Then, I’m going to start my first letter home.” He turned around to face his mother, she just nodded.

“I see, well, that’s good. But you know, I’ve seen a group of kids hanging around…maybe you should focus on getting to know them. It’s only been a little over a week since-”

“I’ll write who I want.” He got down off the stool. His mother raised her eyebrows.

“Well excuse me.” She went back to tending the kitchen. “I think I’ll make spaghetti tonight. Its quick and easy.”

Sora nodded as if to say ‘ok’ and walked out. He looked at the clock on the wall, it read six thirty. By now his neighbor was home, his friends were probably over, and they were most likely doing whatever. If he was home, he would be sitting around Aerith’s place in Second most likely standing still while she used him to create another outfit. He smiled at the thought.

‘There’s an idea, I’ll for a walk.’ He headed up the stairs and opened up a drawer on the bottom he pulled out some clothes and headed down stairs. He knew better than to fully step into the kitchen, but poked his head in to tell his mom he was stepping out.

Since Sunday, Riku had insisted that the group study at his house, there was no arguing with him. It was either his house, or he wouldn’t participate at all. Not like he did when they agreed to it. Kairi and the others studied, while Riku fixed himself next to the one window of his living room that allowed a perfect view of the front lawn next door.

It was really kind of sad, he was too busy watching outside to study or even catch the jokes Tidus and Wakka were making about him. He was also to busy to notice his best friend’s concern over the situation. Kairi sat across from him with a math book in hand; she frowned a bit before going back to reviewing the last chapter, ‘Trig at a Glance’.

‘I can’t believe he is this hung up over someone who won’t even talk to him.’ She flipped the page. ‘I mean, I know he’s got the nick name ‘Love’em and Leave’em’ around school, but he just meet her! Not even for five minutes.’ She turned the page a little violently. ‘She obviously doesn’t even care to know him, he said so himself, she left him there for and hour. A WHOLE HOUR!’ She turned the page so hard it ripped.

Everyone turned to look at her, everyone except Riku. “You’re so stupid!” and she threw the book at the floor. Riku turned to her now.

“What? Math getting the upper hand?”

“Not studying! You! You’re being stupid. We have school tomorrow. We have test everyday this week, and you’re spending your time watching for quite possibly the rudest person on the face of the planet!”

Riku blinked and shook his head. “Geez, Kairi, I was just thinking.” He reached over and picked up his history book. “But if you want me to study that bad, I will.” He opened the book and completely ignored Kairi’s ‘humph’ and didn’t look up as she stormed out. But the other three in the room carefully had their eyes fixed on him.

“That wasn’t very nice.” Selphie spoke up first.

“Ya, she’s really angry. You should go apologize.”

“Why do you have to be such a jerk all the time?” Riku looked up at Tidus’ question.

“I’m a jerk? I didn’t do anything. She’s over reacting. Been that way since Saturday, I think it’s just that time of the month.” Tidus laughed and Wakka smirked, but Selphie did like Kairi and left. “Women,” Riku shrugged and went back to looking out the window. And he did so just in time, in the front yard through the window he spotted a figure turning and walking down the street.

They had on flared out blue jeans; they looked purposely ripped and frayed at the bottom, yellow sneakers, a white three-quart sleeve shirt with a red tank-top over it and a red bandana holding down their hair, except it stuck out in the back and some bangs stuck out in front. Riku watched them until they were out of sight. They were also wearing a black choker. Once they were he stood up and faced the boys.

“Guy’s I’ve got to go. So pack up and head out. Ok?” he turned around and ran out the door before they could answer.

Once outside, he looked down the road, he could still see the figure walking a long; they were looking at the different houses, hands in their pockets, looking up and down. As he slowly walked along behind them, he decided to call out when he was a house away. Riku was overjoyed the person stopped and turned around upon hearing the name ‘Sora’.

Sora turned around, a little surprise to hear his name, but became calm when he saw Riku behind him. He stood still until Riku caught up with him. They stood there for a moment looking each other over. They hadn’t really gotten to good a look at one another the other day, so now they looked each other over. Occasionally, Sora thought he caught a strange look of interest as Riku would raise an eyebrow, and go back to a placid face.

‘He’s not too bad looking…WHAT AM I SAYING. Ugh, it doesn’t matter how he looks, he’s not Leon. Not at all.’ Sora turned his head away and looked across the street.

‘Hmm…nice outfit, but I wonder if she’s hot with two shirts on. Maybe she’s trying to hide the fact she hasn’t got much of a bust…oh well. I’m not really here for that sort of thing. Right?’ Riku looked the ‘girl’ over once more. ‘I guess I could be.’

“So what do you want?” Sora said now turning his attention back to Riku.

“Hm? Oh nothing. I saw you walking around, and thought: A good neighbor would show her around. So here I am.” Riku paused and Sora seemed amused by something. “What’s up?”

“Oh…nothing.” He turned around. “It was a nice thought, but you don’t have to show me around.” He started to walk away.

“But I really want to.”

“Well, I don’t need you to. Ok?” he said a little defiantly.

“You sure? I mean, walking around at this time of day can be pretty dangerous.” At this Sora scoffed.

“Please, I can handle anything some cruddy little island kids can throw at me. No way is this place more dangerous than the big city.” At this Riku laughed and Sora felt a little disappointed. ‘Am I doing this right? I’ve never had to be an insensitive jerk to someone before. I should have paid more attention to Cloud and Leon when they did it.’

Once Riku stopped laughing he spoke up again, “So, you’re from the city. Any place I know?”

“Probably not, it’s called Traverse Town. We’re pretty far in land, and to tell the truth, I never even knew such a boring place like this existed until I learned I was moving here.”

He laughed again, “Yea it is very boring here. Personally, I’ve been trying to get away for years.”

“Well, you’d better stay; the real world is a scary place. I doubt a little head strong island kid like you could handle it.”

“Little? I’m taller than you.” Riku put his hand up to his head and then brought it down to Sora’s. “Besides, I’m by far the toughest kid in Caspa.”

“So! Big fish, little pond. If you met Leon, he’d teach you a lesson…heh! I could even take you.”

“What, Leon a fighter or something?” Riku stopped walking Sora turned around to see a new look on his face.

‘Oh I see, you don’t like to be challenged.’ He nodded. “Yea, him and Yuffie and Cloud. They’re my friends. They’re older than you and much better fighters.”

“Oh well, they’re older. So yea, they’d have an advantage. But you, you’re definitely younger than me, and no offense, but I think hell will freeze over before I lose at anything to a girl. Even a cute girl.” Riku tilted his head and smirked at him.

Sora went red in the face. “OH well, then. Let’s test it.” He walked back to stand next to Riku. “From here to your front door. Ok?”

“Ok!” Riku turned to face back to his house; they were a good four blocks away. ‘A challenge on our second meeting, this kid could be fun.’

‘Call me cute. We’ll see how cute I am when I kick your butt….’

“Ready?” Riku stood perfectly sill. “Set?” They both leaned forward. “GO!” And Riku and Sora took off down the side walk.

They ran side by side down the first block, but Riku pulled a head a little half way through the second. Not wanting to lose, Sora took a deep breath and began pushing himself harder. He caught up to Riku by the third block and as they entered the fourth he heard Riku say something jokingly. He didn’t know what it was, but it made him angry.

‘He’s laughing at me! Fine, I’ll give you something to laugh at.’ They rounded into Riku’s driveway and Sora suddenly pushed passed the older boy. As he came to the steps he jumped as hard as he could, sending himself feet first onto the porch, where he leaned forward and put his hand on the door.

“HA! Whose cute now, Mr. Bigtalk?” Sora said smugly turning to face Riku. But the older boy just shrugged and leaned forward.

“You are,” and he planted a kiss on Sora’s cheek.