The New Me

A/N: Sorry, only one chapter…I got stuck on 20 and studying takes up time…so yea…I’ll get it up soon though. No not that for all the dirty minds out there.


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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Sora had hopped he could go another day without having to go outside, but, no dice. His mom woke him up this morning at seven. SEVEN, because she thought the front yard needed some flowers. She left a list and some money and asked him to plant some flowers around the porch.

“Man, and she was so nice yesterday…Stupid menopause and mood swings…I can never win!” Sora threw some clothes on the floor as he searched for something appropriate. Really, he knew he was just being unreasonable, its not like she yelled at him, and the front yard was a little bare. But that didn’t change the fact that she interrupted him in the best part of his mind’s version of the Christmas party. “She’s got radar for it I swear,” he held up a pair of jeans, “I can’t even bee with Leon in my dreams.”

Too lazy to comb his hair, Sora put on his black hat. He also wore three-quarter sleeve white shirt that had a picture of a gumdrop shaped bunny on it. The bunny was cream colored with brown splotches that rose above the shirt; under him it read ‘Man Killer’. He wore a pair of baggy blue jeans that were really androgynous, so even a ‘girl’ could wear them, and his yellow sneakers. Sora smiled at them, ‘Mom really hates these things too.’

He put the money, list, and his house key into his pockets and headed down stairs. “Ok, find a store that sells plants. Buy some, and some garden tools, plant this stuff by noon, and I’ll be able to lie around the house for the rest of the day!” Sora threw open the door and his idea went out the window.

There, on the other side of the screen was Riku with his hand raised read to knock.

“Oooh, psychic? I like.”

“Geez, can you give it a rest?” Riku backed up as Sora walked outside. “Why are you here so early any way?” he asked locking up the house.

“I came to get you; me and the gang are taking the ferry to go see a movie. Want to come?”

“For starters, it’s ‘the gang and I’ and no.” Sora walked down the steps.

“Sorry, I thought school was out.” Riku followed him across his lawn. “So, why don’t you want to come? And don’t say sick.”

Sora looked over his shoulder and smiled, “Let me guess, already heard that one?” When he reached the sidewalk he paused. It dawned on him he started walking and really had no idea which way to go.

“Yea, I did hear it already,” Riku stopped next to him, “So…are you going some where?”

“Hmm, do you know a place that sells flowers?”

Riku raised an eyebrow, “Why?” Sora looked over at him; he could have sworn he was glaring.

Sora rolled his eyes, “My mom wants me to plant for flowers around the porch today.”

Riku blinked a few times in realization, “Oh, you’re doing yard work?” He smiled. “Wait here I’ll get my bike.” He started towards his house.

“No really, just tell me where I can get some,” but Riku kept walking. “Great.” Sora muttered and sat down on the curb.

While Riku was away, his friends walked up, only adding to Sora’s pleasure. ‘I should have stayed in today…’

Tidus and Wakka walked up joyful to see Sora again, Selphie looked a little doubting.

“Hey Sora! Coming with us to see the movie, ya? I heard it’s great!” Wakka sat down next to him.

“Riku didn’t tell me the name of the movie.”

“Oh really, well you wouldn’t like it anyway,” Selphie smirked, “It’s already played on the mainland. We get everything here a little late.”

“Well then, it’s a good thing I’m not going.”

“You’re not?” Tidus asked, “Then why are you out here?”

“I’m waiting for Riku to tell me where I can get some flowers.”

“Flowers?” The three asked this together.

“Hey!” They all looked over to see Riku coming out from his backyard with his bike in hand. “You guys are here, great, then let’s get going.”

“Um, hello! The flower shop, where is it?” Sora asked a little annoyed.

“Don’t worry, we’re taking you there.”

“We are?” The other three kids were a choir today.

“Yea, we are. I mean, its rude to let a lady do yard work on her own,” Riku nodded to Sora offering him a place on his handle bars.

“Well then, that’s ok, “Selphie nodded, “After all, Sora’s a girl, not a lady. So let’s go to the movie already.” Sora curled his upper lip at Selphie.

“Nice try Selphie,” Tidus shook his head, “I don’t mind doing yard work.”

“And with all of us, it will get done in no time. We’ll go see the afternoon movie.” Wakka agreed.

“Exactly,” Riku got on his bike.

“Wait! If we spend all our money on flowers, we won’t have money for tickets!” Selphie nodded, sure this would work.

“My mom left me money for the flowers and garden tools.”

“But if we use our garden tools, we’ll have money left over for candy at the theater!” Tidus suggested, “Come on Selphie, even you can’t turn down snacks.”

Selphie looked around, everyone was against her…but then again, the movie theater had the best extra butter and caramel popcorn. And it was even better with Skittles thrown in, pop rocks, and the left over cheese from your order of extra cheese nachos. And a large coke to top it off…and a chocolate bar for desert…

Selphie threw her hand up in the air, “Let’s get those flowers so I can get my food!”

Riku shook his head, “Such a freeloader…”

“Am not!”


There was a little nursery on the far end of the island. The front part of the building was like a little wooden shack. It had seed packets, gardening tools, hats, gloves, watering cans, and other supplies along the wall. Other than the door in, there was only the door out into the giant glass nursery where the plants were kept. There was a teenager with long spiky red hair sitting at the counter, half a sleep, he didn’t even notice them come in.

“Ok now…let’s split the list up, and well all grab some flowers. It will go faster that way,” Riku nodded at the others, “Agreed?”

“I love how only you get to think up the ideas,” Sora crossed his arms.

“Well, do have a better suggestion?” Sora chewed on his bottom lip as a way to say ‘No’. Riku just laughed, “That’s cute, you should do it more often.”

“Bah!” Sora took out the list and tore into three parts. He handed a part to Wakka, Tidus, and Selphie, a part to Riku, and kept the last piece. “Ok, ignore any of the tools on the list.”

“Duh, we know!” Selphie ran off to get the first flower on their part, some dandelions. Sora just rolled his eyes. He didn’t feel like arguing, he just got to work looking for his plants.

The nursery was rather big; it was the size of ten of the front room put together. There was a girl back here watering the plants. She was wearing a white dress, sandals and had blond hair. She didn’t look any older than Sora. She waved to him as he walked by.

“Hi! Welcome to Castle Garden!”

“Do you really work here?” Sora asked, a little surprised to see someone so young working.

“Do you really kill men?” she asked in return. He blinked in confusion, before she pointed to the rabbit on his shirt.

“Oh…I see.” He laughed.

“I’m Naminé, I don’t work here, but Axel won’t water the flowers.”

“Axel?”

“The guy sleeping out front.”

“I see, you guys friends?”

“No, he lives on the main island, but I live across the street. When ever he works I come over and water the plants.” She smiled at him and waved her hand across the scene. Sora looked around, seemed like a strange thing to do to him.

“So, can I help you?”

“Yea, do you have any rose bushes?”

“Um…not any big ones. But there are some little starter ones here in the back. Come on.” She set the hose she had been watering with down and started to lead Sora around the nursery.

Riku walked around a little bored, he didn’t care for flowers. “Two ferns…Two ferns…” He looked around and found himself in the middle of a mess of fern plants. “What type of fern!” He grumbled looked around for the smallest ones he could find.

As he picked out two fern plants, big enough to fill up his arms, he found himself doing a good imitation of a deer caught in head lights. Wakka and Tidus managed to find a flat bed to put the flowers on, and were now charging down the aisle with it, at full speed, right at him.

“Get out of the way!” Shouted Tidus, who was ridding on the front of the flatbed. Riku started to move left, then changed his mind and to a step right. He looked around, shook his head, turned on his heels and ran. It didn’t take long for the flatbed to catch up to him.

“Stop! Stop Damn It!”

“No breaks,” Wakka called out, “Have to let it run down.” Riku was trying to run as fast as he could he didn’t have to look back to feel the cart was right on his heels. Finally he came up to an area where he could go into the side aisle; he literally dove into the clear space, not caring if he broke any of the plants’ pots, which he did. One of the ferns he had been carrying went flying and smashed on the floor.

As he got up he heard someone ask him if he was going to pay for that. He sat up to find himself looking at Naminé and Sora, each holding a little rose bush.

“Um…yea…” He scratched his head.

“Wow, look at that mess!” Selphie walked up behind them, “You’re such a klutz, even more than me.”

“Yea right…” Riku scooped up what he could of the fern, its pot, and its dirt. “Can I have a bag for this?”

“Sure,” Naminé set down her bush, “I’ll be right back.”

Wakka and Tidus came around with the flat bed, Sora and Selphie added their plants to the others. Riku put one fern on the load, and added the second when Naminé returned with a bag.

“So, what else do you guys need?” she asked watching Riku fumble around with the broken pot pieces.

“We need some mulch, soil, some of those garden bricks, and a tree, doesn’t matter what kind,” Sora said looking over the list. Naminé nodded and began helping the group around the nursery.

Once the flat bed was filled with the remaining items, the group headed for the little entrance house. They walked along each holding their own conversation. Tidus and Wakka rambling about blitz ball; Selphie talking about what she was going to have at the movies to no one in particular, and Riku pretending to listen to Sora and Naminé.

“So you just moved here?” the blonde asked.

“Yea, form a city on the main land.”

“That’s wonderful! We don’t get many people here. But surprisingly, it’s still hard to get to know everyone.”

Riku scoffed, “I know everyone.”

“Do you know me? I’ve been in your math class every year since 7th grade, and we’ve yet to hold a conversation until today?” Naminé asked the cocky teen. Riku responded with a blank look and an ‘Errr”.

“That’s cute, you should do it more often,” Sora teased.

“Ah, you think my facial expression is cute?” Riku smirked and raised an eyebrow.

“No, I think you being speechless is cute. Please, go without talking more often.” Riku playfully sneered and Sora stuck out his tongue.

“Keep it in unless you intend to use it.” Sora rolled his eyes.

‘Why did I have to move next to such a pervert…’ His thoughts were interrupted as Naminé tapped him on the shoulder. “Hm?”

“I just remembered, for your tree, you’ll need some special fertilizer, come with me.” She turned and walked away. Sora shrugged and ran off behind her. He had never heard of fertilizer just for trees, but then again he never had to tend to a garden before, so he followed her.

Naminé lead him around to an isolated aisle in the nursery, she acted like she was looking around for something. Periodically looking up to check to see that Sora was following; once the others left the nursery she stopped looking.

“Can you not find it?” Sora asked.

“Actually, I’m not looking for anything; I just wanted us to be alone.”

“…What!? Why?”

“Well I,” she looked around, “I wanted to ask you…Do your friends…know?”

Sora shifted uneasily, “Know….what?”

Naminé shook her head, “That you’re a guy.”

Sora cringed, but was a little happy someone on the island could tell the difference. He shook his head and smiled, “No they don’t.” Naminé nodded and acted like she was going to say something, but Sora cut her off. “Before you continue, how did you know?”

She shrugged, “I just did, its kind of obvious to me.”

Sora laughed, “Let me guess, it was,” he struck a little pose, “Striking masculinity, or my debonair voice or-”

“No actually, you’re pretty girly seeing as how scrawny you are, and voice doesn’t even sound like you’ve puberty yet. You don’t even crack when you speak Though that’s a nice trick, hiding you Adam’s apple behind a chocker.”

Sora slumped over, “Thanks….”

“I guess I knew because you remind me of Marluxia. He lives on the third island, but comes here sometimes. He’s awfully girly too. I thought he was a woman the first time I saw him.”

“I see, so you’re just used to,” he sighed, “Girly looking men.”

“Yep. But don’t worry I won’t tell anyone.”

“Thanks.”

“Well, if you want someone to be a guy around, come by, I live across the street,” she waved him off. Sora nodded and turned around and walked away. As he approached the door he heard Naminé call out ‘Good luck with Riku!’ but what made her do that he couldn’t guess.


The rip home was longer than the trip to the flower shop; the kids had so much stuff to carry. The smaller plants fit into bags, but the large ones had to be carried by the boys. Riku hung two bags from his handle bars, and lead the bike along with one hand. His other arm occupied by a bag of mulch. Tidus and Wakka each carried a set of potted plants, and Sora and Selphie divided up the rest.

One back at Sora’s house they lined everything up in the front yard, Riku went to go get his mom’s garden tools, while the others began looking over the instructions on where to plant what.

“Ok, so the ferns go here,” Sora pointed, “And the flowers line the porch, and the tree should go somewhere over here…” He motioned his hands over the yard.

“We’ll we can’t start till Riku comes back, ya.” Wakka nodded to himself.

“We can put the plants down where they’re going to go,” Selphie suggested. Everyone nodded and began placing the plants in there future spots. It didn’t take Riku long to come back with some tools, an extra garden house, and nozzle. Everyone took up some tools, Riku set up the hose, and everyone started planting.

Actually garden work was a lot harder than Sora thought it would be. Every time he planted a flower it flopped over on its side. Selphie had to come behind him and redo all his plants.

“Sorry about that…” Sora sighed.

“Whatever. Why don’t you go water plants or something?” She redid his last set of flowers. Sora just huffed and walked away.

‘Guess she still hates me,’ he thought as he walked up to Riku who was watering the ferns.

“I think Tidus put the mulch down wrong…” he said to him.

“That’s fine, I don’t care.” He held out his hand “Can I have to hose; I’m gonna water the flowers.”

“But I’m watering….” He whined.

“Don’t be such a baby!” He reached out to steal the hose away from him. Riku responded by turning the nozzle and hitting Sora in the face full blast. “ACK!” He stumbled back, but Riku kept firing at him.

Tidus, upon seeing Sora get blasted by Riku screamed, “WATER FIGHT!” and took off to fetch supplies.

“NO! We’re supposed to be working!” Selphie called out, “What about my movie snacks!!!”

“Lighten up Selphie!” Riku turned the hose on her. Sora took this chance to grab the hose and pull on it. He and Riku ended up fighting over it with it pointing up wards spraying water all over the place.

“Let go!” Sora laughed.

“Never! You challenged me you have to win to get it!” Riku jerked the hose to the left. Tidus returned with a pack of balloons. He started handing them out as Riku and Sora fought. Wakka had gone over and started to turn off the hose leaving the two fighting over nothing.

“What…?” Sora questioned as the water stopped. Riku released the hose and went running for Tidus. Sora paused for a moment before running away. ‘I need my water gun,’ he thought as he ran into his house.

Riku filled up his water balloons and looked around. He saw Tidus getting wailed on by Selphie. And Wakka sitting back laughing. He didn’t see Sora. He looked around again, before he realized the front door was open.

‘That coward!’ he thought as he ran inside.


Sora came running out of his room with his water gun in hand ad filled up, he was planning to soak Riku. ‘That’s the second time he’s gotten me wet…with water,’ he added to assure himself. Just as he turned to head down the stairs, he saw Riku looking up at him from half way up the stair case.

“What…what are you doing?” Sora was shocked.

“Looking for you, you ran away from battle. That’s a forfeit.”

“I didn’t run its strategy.”

“You left the battle arena…” Riku started up the stairs again, and Sora backed up. “You lose.”

“We’ll just see about that!” He got ready to fire his gun, but then remembered he was inside.

“What’s the matter?” Riku reached the top of the stairs and smiled at Sora. “Admitting defeat?”

Sora looked around, Riku was now awfully close, again. And there wasn’t any where to run. He couldn’t go to his room, there was too much evidence of what he really was. He couldn’t get around him to get down the stairs… “Fine.” Sora lowered his gun, “You win…”

Riku smirked at Sora, “That’s it? No running, no resistance, no anger?”

“You win ok! Now let’s get back outside…” Sora tried to get around Riku but he grabbed his arm and pulled him back. Sora was mortified, “What are you doing!” He tried to jerk away, but Riku held fast.

“Sora,” he looked at him for a moment, “I still want to ask you, about that something.”

Sora’s heart skipped, ‘SHIT!’ he tried to pull away again, but Riku held on to him. Sora began to pull so hard, he reached the end of the stairs. “LET GO! LET GO!! I SWEAR I’LL SCREAM!!!”

“You already are!” Riku pulled back again, this time he had Sora off balance. Sora began to fall over the stairs. He felt his heart sink, ‘I’m gonna bust my neck…’ He felt his boy fall forward, but suddenly he was grabbed form behind and yanked back. Instead of falling over the stairs, he fell back onto Riku. In turn, the silver haired boy fell first, he hit the stairs, and Sora went with him. Riku clung to Sora as he rolled downward. He felt a few sharp blows to his back and sides, and was sure Riku felt the same thing.

They landed with a thud. Riku lay still the wind knocked out of him. His arms were wrapped around Sora’s thin frame. He looked up at the ceiling for a moment, hoping to god he was alright. And that Sora was too.

“Sora…” no response. “Sora say something!” he tried to sit up but felt a sharp pain in his back that forced him back down. He rolled over so Sora was on his side, facing him. “Sora?” he reached up and bushed away the brown bangs covering his face. He felt a little startled when he saw Sora crying silently.

“Oh god! Are you hurt?” Sora shook his head. “Then…what?”

‘Thank you,’ he whispered. Riku felt dumbfounded. Since he met Sora, this ‘girl’ had portrayed herself as the toughest bad ass to come to the island. And now ‘she’ was crying, bawling even, over falling down the stairs.

‘I guess girls are sensitive, no matter how thought they act.’ Riku leaned over and kissed Sora’s cheek. He looked up surprised like he was going to say something, but Riku cut him off with another kiss. And then another.

‘What is he doing?’ Sora though. ‘I told him not to kiss me!’ Riku continued to lightly peck Sora’s face since he wasn’t protesting out loud. ‘Didn’t I…’ Sora felt himself be rolled over, and soon Riku managed to move himself over him.

He leaned forward again and kisses Sora’s lips, “Are you ok?” He asked him once he pulled back.

Sora wanted to shout out, but could only bring himself to nod stupidly. Riku smiled and leaned downward. This time he kissed Sora on the lips. And not lightly, Sora felt Riku’s tongue brush against his bottom lip, and felt a tug as the boy began sucking on it. Now to this the boy reacted. At first he squirmed even lightly whimpered. Riku taking it as an invite to continue, slipped his tongue in past Sora’s lips and used his hands as best he could to roam up and down Sora’s sides.

Finally, Sora’s instinct to panic fully kicked in. He began thrashing like mad, even though his body quickly told him through jolts of pain to knock it off. But he wouldn’t, he couldn’t, he be doomed if he gave into Riku and gave up on Leon.

“Stop!” he said once Riku pulled away.

“What?” He seemed a little surprised.

“Just, who do you think you are?” Riku smiled lightly. He shook his head and seemed a little sad.

“I’m sorry, I forget. You’ve got a boyfriend.” Riku rolled off Sora and stared at the ceiling. He couldn’t quite get up. Sora felt angry, Riku kissed him. Again! He rolled over and looked away.

“If Leon was here he’d kill you.” He tried not to sound upset.

Riku smiled again, “I like a challenge. I can’t wait to steal you away from him.”

Sora scoffed, but he ran his figures along his lower lip. Riku tasted like an exotic fruit, and he was afraid it wasn’t all that bad. He felt like he wanted to cry.