The New Me

DISCLAIMER: I don’t own the characters. Nor do I make any money off of them. The characters are property of their respective creators/companies.
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Chapter 14

By the time Sora had come around to the other side of the island, Riku and Kairi were long gone.

“What happened?” Tidus asked him as he came through the little stair house.

“Ya, Kairi jumped in her boat and never looked back. Even when Riku was calling for her to stop.”

“Oh, nothing,” Sora lied, “They got into an argument, and she get upset…so…”

“Maybe she got upset because of something you did,” Selphie shook her head at Sora.

‘Thanks for up holding innocence until proven guilty…’

“Well anyway, one of us will have to give you a ride back,” Wakka nodded at the three of them.

“It won’t be me.” Selphie grumbled.

“She can ride with me.” Tidus volunteered.

Sora nodded and followed Tidus to the little pier. He didn’t mind that the girls hated him, it was actually beneficial to his plan. ‘Even if Riku doesn’t care, there’s no way Kairi will let me have an easy life when she finds out I’m just playing with Riku.’ He smirked on the floor of Tidus’s little boat. ‘I guess this being two-faced isn’t as hard as I thought it would be.’

By the time he reached the island, Kairi had all ready gotten on her bike and was well out of sight. Riku cursed to himself at the thought of having to chase her down, but he chose to do so anyway. Luckily for him he knew every short cut there was on their island and it didn’t take long for him to reach their neighbor hood. As a matter of fact, just as he pulled onto the street, he saw Kairi turn the corner onto the road that lead to her house. ‘Better get going,’ he thought as he raced after her.

Once he had her in his sights Riku began calling out for Kairi to stop, but she just pushed herself even harder.

‘I won’t stop! Not until I’m home! Not until I’m safely locked away in my house!’ Kairi tried her best to out ride Riku, even thought she subconsciously knew it was hopeless, Riku was just faster than her. She had hopped that her early lead would allow her to get home safely, but it was to no avail.

Riku cut Kairi off just as she was ridding up to her house. He stopped in front of her causing her to stop so suddenly that she fell over on her side, taking her bike with her of course. Riku got off his own bike and lifted Kairi up from under hers.

“Are you alright?” He asked brushing her off, but Kairi began to smack him on the back as soon as she on her own two feet.

“How can you ask that! Of course I’m not!” Riku backed away and got a good look at Kairi’s face; it was stained from crying. Riku shook his head for a moment before trying to hug her, at which Kairi immediately began to protest. She fought him off and sat down on the sidewalk. Riku sat down next to her.

“Kairi, I don’t understand. Why are you making such a big deal out of this?” Riku reached over and rubbed her on the back.

“Because,” she wiped her eyes ad checks clear, “Because it’s not fair! You’re falling head over heals for this girl, and you barely even know her.”

Riku shook his head, “Kairi we already went over this, I can’t help but feel attracted to Sora.”

“But why Sora? Why! I’m closer to you than any one! I know you better, I know everything about you. I’ve been there for you, and I’ll be there for you, and… it doesn’t make any sense. The way you feel about her…”

“Is that what it is? You’re afraid that I won’t be there for you?”

“No. I’m afraid you’re over looking what’s best for you.”

Riku leaned back and thought about Kairi’s words. “Kairi,” he shook his head, “Is that what this is? You like me.”

Kairi frowned, “Don’t say it like that! I don’t like you, Riku. I love you,” she reached out to take his hand but Riku pulled back.

“That’s a little extreme don’t you think? You’re only fifteen.”

“That might be true, but we’ve been together for years. Practically since we were in diapers.”

“It hasn’t been that long…”

“You’re missing the point! The point is I’ve had long enough to work out my feelings, and it seems like they’re falling on deaf ears.”

Riku shook his head, “But Kairi, I don’t think I love Sora, I just like her. Love is a lot, even between friends.” There was a bit of silence. Kairi looked up and watched Riku lean forward, he seemed to be thinking it over. For a little while, she thought maybe she had finally gotten through to him.

“Kairi,” he said, “I know this may sound lame, but I do love you. Just, not the way you think I should. I love you, but I’m not in love with you…”

Kairi shook her head, “But you’ve never even given us a try! I bet if we did go out, you’d see-”

“But Kairi I don’t have any desire to go out with you.” At this Kairi stood up and began to walk away. Riku wanted to say something more, but he just watched Kairi pick up her bike and walk to her house.

Once she was gone Riku put his head in his hands and sighed, ‘Mom always told me having a female best friend could be dangerous…’

Sora arrived home around four thirty, as he walked up to his house he noticed two people he had never seen before lingering out side Riku’s place. They were standing in front of truck trying to unload a few boxes. Sora stopped on the side walk and stared at them for a while.

There was one on the porch holding a box, he was dressed in blue jeans and a white T-shirt; he had short hair the same color as Riku’s. The other one stood behind the truck trying to get another box. This person had long black hair pulled back in a ponytail, and was wearing a red shirt and black pants. The man on the porch waved to Sora before setting his box down and walking over.

“Hello there,” The man extended his hand to, “I’m Mr. Endo. I haven’t seen you before, you must be one of the people that moved in next door.”

“Um, yea,” Sora shook his hand. ‘Riku’s hair, but your eyes are awfully dark. This must be his dad.’

“Sorry I haven’t been over to properly great you, but I’ve been on the main land picking up my son,” the man motioned to the boy still taking boxes out of the truck.

“I trust my wife though was very glad to meet you, she’s a bit of a busy body,” he whispered the last part.

“I wouldn’t know…I got out during the day and my mom works so-”

“SHE HASN’T BEEN OVER TO SEE YOU!” He seemed a little startled, “What about the other neighbors?”

“I think some came by the first few days, but once my mom started going to work I haven’t seen anyone…” The man nodded.

“Well, you have to come over for dinner then since I’m back in town. I at least hope my youngest son’s been over to meet you.”

“Ha! It’s a girl Dad, I bet Riku was over there the first day trying to bust down the door!” The boy at the truck turned around, he had sea-green eyes like Riku.

“Touya, stop messing around and get your stuff in the house. You’re not a college now, you’re home! Act like it!”

The boy by the truck grumbled before picking up his things and heading for the house. Mr. Endo turned back to Sora.

“Well, I hope you’ll ask your mother about diner with us. It’s been a while since we’ve had new neighbors.”

“I will,” and Sora turned around and walked away muttering a ‘not’ under his breath. ‘No way would I tell mom about diner at their place, she doesn’t know I’ve been lying to everybody about being a girl, and I can’t afford to get caught now. I’ve had enough close calls.’


A/N: Thanks for the reviews guys. I’m doing my best to update on a regular bases. Specially since I’m going off to college next week, so once classes start, I don’t know how often I’ll be able to post. Eh, unfortunately at the moment I’m a little stuck in the middle of chapter 16…I plan to have it worked out by the weekend though, hopefully.


Chapter 15

After sitting for thirty minutes, Riku decided to head home. There was no point in sticking around since Kairi was held up in her house. On the way home, Riku contemplated popping over to Sora’s place to get his question in, but once he saw his father’s truck outside, the idea left him.

‘Great. Touya’s back. Why does he have to spend the summer here? My spine can only take so many surprise attacks. Ah well, if Touya’s back that means Chappu is too, so at least I know I’m not suffering alone…’

Riku opened his front door and looked around, there was no sign of anyone in the entrance hall, to the left he could here someone watching TV, but other than that the coast was clear. Riku carefully made his way through the hall and to the stairs around the corner. Once up stairs he listened once again, there was no one in the bath room at the end of the hall, and on the opposite end was his room. There was a loud, blaring sound of rock music coming from the door across from his.

‘Just have to be quite…’ Riku slowly walked to his door. He paused for a moment and placed his hand on the door knob. He pushed on his door confident he was almost home free, when someone jumped out of his doorway and sent him crashing into the floor.

“DAMN IT TOUYA! MUST YOU HIDE IN MY ROOM!!”

“Boys! NO Cursing!” A woman’s voice shouted angrily from the first floor.

“Sorry Mom,” they both responded. Riku stood up and straitened out his clothes before angrily glaring at his older bother.

“Why my room? Why?”

“Because it’d just be wrong if I jumped you in the bathroom.” Touya tossed Riku his classic smirk. In actually, it was the same one Riku was known for, he had just stolen it from his older brother.

“So, how’s college?”

Touya made a face, “Please, no small talk! I met that girl that lives next door. I would rather hear what you’ve been up to.”

“Sora came by!” Riku was a little surprised; he suddenly wanted to go running from the house to next door.

“Yea, she stopped by out front and talked to dad. She’s a little scrawny, but judging by your reaction I guess I was right in thinking she’s your new girlfriend?”

“Pfft. I wish. Sora’s still crushing on some guy back home. Name’s Leon, he’s older than her thought…and Kairi’s all types of pissed over it.”

“Over what? The fact she won’t give you the time of day?”

“No, the fact that I won’t give Her the time of day.”

Touya nodded and rubbed his chin “I see, so you’re just in all kinds of chick trouble.” He leaned forward and patted Riku on the head. “You’re just like me at your age,” and he started to laugh.

“It’s not funny! Kairi ran home crying. And I had to ditch Sora, I don’t think either of them is going to talk to me for a while.”

“Riku, Riku, Riku.” Touya shook his head back and forth, “…Riku, Riku-”

“Get To The Point Please!”

“…Riku, you just don’t know how to handle these girls. You take on too much at once, take it slow. Spend a day working things out with Kairi, then a day with Sora, and switch off and on. I bet you started off trying to get them both under control at once, right?”

“Well, yea.”

“And there’s your problem. Women are delicate creatures. Their emotions are volatile. They’re finely crafted, intricate machines, and each needs plenty of delicate, time, love, and care.”

“Are we talking about people, pets, or cars?”

“People.” Touya wrapped an arm around Riku, “Now baby bro, listen to me and listen good. Here’s what you need to do. Tomorrow, spend the whole day, checking up with Sora, then the next day with Kairi. And do so back and forth.”

“Kairi won’t hang out with me,” Riku shook his head.

“That’s why you’re giving her the day to cool off. And then the next day, you’re giving Sora the chance to miss you. After a week or so, start bringing them up around the other, gradually ease them into each others lives.”

Riku looked around as if his response would pop out him. He already had the feeling no amount of easing would allow Kairi and Sora to exist in the same space; however, spending time with each of them, without the other did seem like a plan. “Ok,” he agreed.

“Cool, now, Dad invited Sora and her mom over for dinner, you can check up on that.”

“She’s coming here!” Riku brushed Touya aside and ran into his room.

“Relax, it’s not until tomorrow.”

Riku stopped in the middle of scrambling to pick up dirty clothes, and with a relieved ‘Oh’ dropped them back onto the floor. “I’ll clean later then.”

“Yea, girls are neat freaks.” Touya shut the door to Riku’s room. Riku looked around at the mess.

‘I should learn to pick up my stuff…’ He lay down on his bed and stared at his ceiling. ‘I never did get to ask Sora my question…but I suppose it’s for the best. I mean really, do need to be knocked flat on my ass for insinuating that she’s a he?’

He rolled over onto his side and clothes his eyes, ‘I mean gross. Me hitting on a boy! Sora has to be a girl, I wouldn’t like her any other way.’


Chapter 16

A/N: Woot. I came up with a solution for this chapter. Of course, now it’s partly about Kairi instead of Riku…but…I’ll get back on focus soon. I promise. Besides, everyone knows, to know your enemy is to…bash them more. Yea. Awww, and don’t hate Selphie too much, you’ll regret it later trust me. And as for Sora, Riku and Kairi…I know it’s gonna work out. And for anyone hoping for Leon, he’s coming back. I promise.

But not in this chapter. I know I write short chapters, but that’s why I try to upload multiple ones at a time^^


Kairi pounded her fist into her pillow, once, twice, and over and over again. She had turned on her radio at full blast so her family wouldn’t hear her screaming her lungs out. Frustrated wasn’t the word to describe her current fame of mind, more like enraged. She couldn’t understand how years of friendship, support, and more than a little subtle hinting was all for nothing.

‘He has to feel something towards me, other wise he wouldn’t be trying so hard to calm me down.’ She rolled over and faced her ceiling and let out a sigh. Her room was decorated like any other girls room. She had posters of her favorite bands, TV shows, and characters along the lavender painted walls. She kept all her old stuffed animals on a shelf that went half way around the room. She had three dressers, only one with a vanity mirror though, and closet for every conceivable outfit she had. Old forgotten toys stuffed under bed, and a book shelf-writing desk combo where she did her home work.

She got up and walked over to her book shelf. Only the bottom row along the desk had any books on it. The other two were covered with pictures, trophies, knickknacks, and other random oddities that all reminded her of one person. She picked up the latest addition to her collection, a black bangle that was too big for her arm.

‘I sometimes think I’ll never understand you.’ She put the bangle back down and sat on the dresser closest to her bed. It was small, only two draws high. She sat on top of it and looked out her window over looking her backyard. ‘What to do…What to do? I’m sure you’ll try to smooth things over with me again tomorrow. Or maybe you’ll try Sora first?’

She made a face at her reflection and ruffled her hair. “There has to be something I can do! If only, I had the time to plan,” she suddenly looked up in realization. “Maybe I do have time to plan!”

Kairi picked up her phone and started dialing. She turned down the radio as she heard the phone start to ring. After the third ring, someone picked up.

“Hello, Tilmitt’s residence.”

“Hi, Mrs. Tilmitt, this is Kairi.”

“Oh hi, dear. Let me guess you want to talk to Selphie? Well hold on just a minute.”

Kairi rocked back and forth on the heals of her feet, ‘This will work. I can count on Selphie.’ As she waited Kairi spotted a spider crawling across her wall.

“Hey Kairi! Are you ok?”

“Of course I’m fine. How’d things go after we left?”

“Eh, we all went home.”

“I see, I see. Well, Selphie, you want to do me a favor?” The little spider she was watching reached the window frame and began using its webbing to lower itself down to where she was sitting.

“Um, sure what?”

“I’m not going to be hanging out with the group for the next few days, and I would love it if you could watch Sora and tell me everything she does with Riku.”

“…You want me to spy?”

“Its not really spying, its more like, babysitting.”

“Ok, Kairi, I don’t like Sora, but isn’t spying illegal?”

“That’s only if you plan to hurt someone-Look! Selphie, she needs to be watched, I don’t trust her. I mean, one day she can’t stand Riku, and the next she making-out with him!” She angrily watched the spider land and begin carefully walking across her dresser top.

“Oh, is that what they were doing?” Selphie sounded a little surprised. She knew Sora and Riku had been doing something to upset Kairi, but making-out without even knowing each other for more than a week. City girls work fast…

“Yes, that’s what they were doing. And you have to admit, it’s a little suspicious how quickly she got over her dislike for him.”

“Yea, it is…”

“Exactly. I bet you she’s playing him. But since I already caught her, she lay off if she sees me around. So I need you keep tabs on her, got it?” She scooted off the desk as the spider got closer to where she was sitting, she looked around for something to hit it with.

“…”

“Got it?”

“Hm, I’m kind of bad at secrets.”

“Selphie! You’re not doing this for me! Were doing it to protect Riku!”

“Oh alright…”

“That’s great Selphie! I knew I could count on you.” Kairi let out a huff as she watched the spider crawl around, she never did find something to hit it with.

“Yea, yea. Just as long as where pushing out, nothing else right?”

“Selphie, please, I’m a teenager, not a maniac.” The other girl laughed at Kairi before hanging up. “Yep, I can count on Selphie. And once I prove to Riku Sora’s lying tramp,” she slammed the phone down on the little spider and held it there.

“KAIRI!” Her father called, “What was that sound!”

“Nothing!”


By the time his mother had gotten home, Sora had already switched into his normal clothes. He decided to where his favorite outfit, even though he hadn’t touched it since he got to the islands.

“Oh lord, Sora. I thought we threw out that old jumper of yours…” his mother shook her head at him.

“You’re never happy with how I dress mother,” laughed in response.

“Well I know I promised you know more take out, but I found this quaint little Chinese takeout place on the main island.” She held up the takeout bag and smiled. “So, you hungry?”

“Yea, I missed lunch.” He took the bag and headed toward the dinning table.

“Oh, why’s that?”

“Hang out with some kids from the neighborhood,” he smirked to himself recalling today’s travesty of events.

“See, I knew you’d make new friends!” His mother patted him on his head.

“Yea, friends…I think the girls hate me.”

His mother laughed this time, “Well if you didn’t spend so much time with kids older than you, you know that girls your age are rather temperamental, even vicious sometimes.”

“I know that,” he took out the food while his mom got them some plates. “Aerith explained it to me once. I saw these girls fighting at school. One was pulling one by the hair and kicking her in the gut. And the other was grabbing her leg and trying to bend it the wrong way…heard it was over a boy.”

His mother nodded, “Yea sometimes girls get crazy when they’re in love. I know people say a lot about boys hormones, but I assure you: Hell has no wrath like a teenage girl in love.”

Sora laughed at his mom, who responded with a strange look and a ‘What?’ But somewhere in the back of his mind, Sora felt he should store that advice.