28Details: When plain high school drama turns into a raged volcano, it is very hard to guarantee friendships won't get ruined, and that relationships would stay still. (AU, High School).
Main couples: Sora/Kairi, Roxas/Naminé, Riku/Xion.
Warnings: The story is rated T. It includes drug use, alcoholic behaviours, sexual themes, characters deaths and so. You read at your own risk. Nothing is too outrageous, though.
Disclaimer: I'm going to state this only once; Kingdom Hearts does not belong to me, nor do the characters in this fiction. The songs portrayed are not mine, either. Only the plot belongs to me.
Enjoy! :D
Main characters introduction:
Sora: "I'm not a bad person! It's just... I've been mad, and had many strange... Bad thoughts lately."
A cheerful, optimistic young man. Likes to prank and annoy his friends, but is in overall a charming boy.
This lovely teenager will have to deal with the consequences of his dark side's actions.
Kairi: "Surely, you know that it's not only my fault. If you weren't such an idiot—! Oh, I'm just sorry."
A pretty girl with her head always on ground; knows what is right and wrong, what's allowed and forbidden.
The wise girl will blame herself for many disasters that cross her way, and she'll have to learn how to deal her life.
Riku: "You think it's easy? Being this way. You think I liked the fact you turned your back on me when things started to get bad?"
A former popular, athletic guy. Used to get everything he desired with one bright smile. Wasn't afraid of using his profits when needed.
However, life hasn't been smiling on him for the past years. He'll have to manage many tragedies that attack him non-stop.
Naminé: "I can't believe you're doing this to me. Since when does B.F.F stands for backstabbing... F-Fake friends?"
Beautiful adolescent who seems to be shy and quiet, yet blunt and caring. Cherishes every moment with the people she loves.
This girl will have to learn how to leave a mark in the world without the help of her family, as she is turning into a young woman.
Xion: "Oh, please stop it! There is no way you really don't remember! What he has done... It was awful."
A jumpy, hyperactive and wild gal. Protects her dearests 24/7 and asks nothing in return.
As a chain of ugly situations threaten to damage her future, she must also deal with the damage the past had left on her.
Roxas: "I must end it... Before it's too late. Before you and I will ruin our lives. Forgive me, but it's your fault. Stupid bitch!"
Life hasn't been the kindest to this youngster, but he tried to be as brave as possible, in order to please his loving Mother.
Unfortunately, he'll put his needs on top, for once, yet he'll cause a horrible accident which he wouldn't be able to fix.
And I loved them from the start; their drama, fights, happiness, laughter, cheers, hugs.
And they were so weird and annoying, and exciting, thrilling, and could beat every trial across the way, and I—
I loved them from the start.
One School, One Destiny
From the very beginning
Wednesday, September 3
Kairi
"Come on!" I said through clenched teeth as I struggled to open my locker. It would always get stuck every once in a while, and I would just have to stand there for minutes and try to open it. However, this time, already on the third pull, I gave up and started to mumble things under my breath.
I sighed and let my hands fall to the sides of my body in defeat. I guess that my last lesson—Physical Education—really managed to get into me more than I had thought. The teacher was mad at me because I didn't practice. I told her my leg hurts, but of course, she thought it was an excuse. I can understand her suspicion, but I was telling the truth.
The day before, I walked down the street to the market, to buy some groceries.
I stared at the floor while I continued to walk to the store, because there was nothing better for me to do. I thought of casual stuff and simply looked at my hurried feet. I lifted my head up when I saw that I'm getting closer to my target. But of course, God must have loved me that day; the ground had a small crack it in, and my heel got stuck. And got me to fall.
Well, not exactly to fall (which made it even more frightening), but more like to stumble. When I was that close to greet the earth with my face, I tried to prevent it and balance my body up quickly. That didn't work out so well, and by accident I was putting too much pressure on my ankle when I tried to push myself up.
I could hear the 'click' and my ankle was in pain. I felt as if I was a turkey that got its leg broken from the rest of its body. But unfortunately, my leg was still part of my body, unlike the poor turkey's. The pain gnawed its way through my bone and I couldn't endure it any longer. I had stopped in my tracks, sat on the ground just like that, and massaged my ankle.
The pain was— in a twisted way— audible. I could hear it as a grating noise; that's how it felt.
I sat there on the road for some minutes until I managed to release the heel of my shoe. Then I just skipped over to the store. Every time my hurt leg had touched the ground, I quickly changed my leg and put on it most of my body weight, to prevent more pain on the hurt ankle.
I wasn't telling any of this to my Mother, because the leg stopped hurting after a while, and I was sure I was just over-reacting. Plus, she would have made a big deal out of it; more than it actually deserves. Still, today, I woke up and found my ankle screaming with pain, so I had to sit aside while the girls did laps around the school. Something that the teacher obviously didn't like.
I sighed once more and looked again at the locker that got me to be so frustrated. Then I felt someone wrap his arms around my waist. The grip was tight, but I was used to it.
I grinned as the person spun me around to face him.
"Hey, baby." He said.
"Leon!" I pronounced his name happily, and hugged him tightly. I ruffled his hair and noticed that it was slightly damp at the end of it. "Did you play Blitz-Ball now?"
"Yep." He grabbed my arms that were wrapped around his neck and put them at the sides of my body, releasing me from the hug. "Guess who just scored?"
"Um, you?" I 'guessed' and flashed a smile.
"No. Tidus did." I cocked my head to the side in confusion and Leon just chuckled. "Of course me!"
I grinned widely at him.
Leon was the Blitz-Ball Team's captain; so— obviously— he was very good at it. That's why I am not too surprised when I hear at the halls that he was the one to pull up an amazing stunt, managing to score at the very last minute, and bring the team to a revelry victory.
Being his girlfriend, I always supported him and I was happy to hear about his scores. But I really couldn't understand the game that much… It was some twisted combination of Rugby and Soccer, just under-water. I really couldn't get what's so enjoyable in it. But I always shrugged it off because Leon was really a big fan of this game, and I was happy for him.
"So, why does my pretty lady stands here oh-so-hopelessly?"
Usually I would smile at his compliments, but I just remembered what got me to be so angry. "This annoying locker. It won't open." I said, turning my gaze to locker number 347. Oh, the hatred…
"Allow me." He gently shoved me to the side. I cleared the way and let him march towards the locker. He did a pose just to entertain me, and succeeded. Then he stopped with the games. He stood in front of my locker, gave it a weak punch and it swung open.
I giggled like a little girl. For some reason I always act like a silly little fan next to him. "Thanks."
"Anytime." He moved to me and placed a quick peck on my lips. "So… What are you doing this Friday night?"
I rolled my eyes and smirked. "Quit the act. Where do you want us to go?"
It's a thing he has: ask me what my plans are for the weekend, but no matter what, still manage to convince me to go with him to wherever he wants. At first, I used to tell him my original plans, but quickly learnt this weird habit of his, so I just ask bluntly for his suggestion.
"Seifer is throwing a party. Everyone is talking about it."
"Huh… Seifer?" I suddenly felt nausea. "We barely talk. Besides, we don't know each other that much and—"
"Kairi." Leon put his hands on my shoulders. "Seifer is a good friend of mine. Stick with me and we'll have fun."
"I don't know…"
"It's the biggest party of the month!" He said in such excitement, as if his life was depending on it.
I chuckled. "Alright, we'll go."
I really couldn't tell if I wanted to go or not. I never liked this Seifer guy; he seemed like a lazy teenager with no future, who just lives in order to throw parties and get into troubles. I couldn't tell what Leon was doing with a person like him, but I decided to keep myself quiet so that Leon won't see me as a pushy-annoying girlfriend. Besides, I wasn't planning anything for the weekend, so I thought that maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea…
"Good." He pecked me lightly on my forehead; I squeezed my eyes shut, as I felt his gentle, warm lips against my skin. "So I'll come over to your house next Friday night, okay?"
Leon Loire and I met last year, back when I was a sophomore. Let's say that our first meeting… Wasn't the best.
It was at the cafeteria, when I accidentally bumped into the boy. I apologized, of course, since because of me he got all wet from his Sprite. I can't even describe how humiliating it was for me; it was so embarrassing that I wanted to hide myself under one of the tables. Literally. Even now, as I bring back the event that happened less than a year ago, I still feel like hiding my red face.
I must say, that though Leon was very pretty, I haven't noticed his face, nor his body, since I was too busy apologizing over and over again. That's the least I could do after his uniform got ruined.
To shorten my long story (which included, mostly, me apologizing), the guy said it was okay and that nothing had happened. So yeah, it wasn't my best moment at school. But after I continued to apologize, though Leon said it was okay, he sighed and then offered me to have lunch with him, to recompense me. My jaw dropped, and I remember Leon smiling awkwardly at me, as he put his hand under my chin to close it.
I blushed back then and tried to recover from the shivers I got. But I couldn't help it; he needs to compensate me? Now, that wasn't how it was supposed to work! Yet, I accepted his offer, since being rude wasn't on my mind. I spent my lunchtime with him (I tried to explain Selphie what had happened, but she just said 'I see', winked and walked away) and got to know him. I learnt that he was at the Blitz-Ball Team, and then I realized that Selphie was once talking about some Leon person from the Team. After lunch, he escorted me to my next class and left.
But that was definitely not the last time I saw him. We met many times after; sometimes by coincidence, and sometimes…Not. It wasn't hard to realize that I started to like the teen, though I had just met him. In no time, we got very attached to each other. At first, I was very shy and closed, but I learnt to trust him and opened myself in front of him. What can I say? The boy just had something in him that made me feel special. He encouraged me to talk more and not to be afraid to speak my mind.
I felt very comfortable near him, and I am sure that he was too, since first time I saw him, I was positive that he is a shy and quiet person, but I was proven wrong. Leon started talking about himself (not that it was a bad thing) and taught me about his family as well.
After two months of knowing each other, he did it; he asked me out. I remember biting my bottom lip in order to prevent the big grin from coming into existence. Okay, call me desperate, but I wanted to go out with him badly. He was everything I was looking for in a guy; nice, kind, with sense of humor, intelligent, good personality, handsome... And he made me feel like a princess. I jumped up and down, up and down again and gave him a big hug. I didn't care of how ridiculous I looked; I was too happy to hide it. Leon caught me and laughed.
"I'll take that as a 'yes'?" He asked me after he offered to go out.
I only nodded excitedly and ran out of the school building, to tell Selphie about the great news. The date went okay. In fact, it was amazing! Well, what could I know, though? It was my first date, after all. However, I knew that it was very nice. Thankfully, it wasn't like those cliché movies, where the boy takes the girl to a fancy restaurant, with candles on the table to 'lighten up the mood', and honorable French waiter with a curly moustache that serves them, and a first, passionate kiss under the moon-light...
No… My date just included a small and lovely coffee shop, a calm walk at the park, and accompany until my arrival to my front door. Yes, maybe there was no kiss, but I was happy; I was not eager to move so fast.
After that, we went to many dates together, and another month later, he asked me to be his girlfriend. There is no reason to tell how happy I was and that I agreed, almost immediately. So Leon and I, somewhere around May, started dating officially!
Then, I got to know another side of Leon; the partier.
Leon often took me to parties and showed me how to celebrate. No, it didn't include alcohol to 'relax', or to 'chill out and have fun'. I saw that Leon was an awesome dancer, and he always danced with me. It was rather fun, and I even learnt how to dance! So every now and then, Leon and I went to parties. Though sometimes, it seemed like Leon liked parties too much; it could distract him from school, and I didn't like thinking that way.
I knew how to balance between my social life, and my school duties. I just hoped that he knew, too.
So there I was, holding my books in my hands, as he waited for an answer.
'Well, I guess I'll need to finish my homework for the weekend quickly, and at the evening I'll meet Leon to go to that lazy kid's party...' I thought as I played with the loosened cover of my textbook.
I nodded. Then put the books into the locker and slammed it shut. I stood next to Leon as he took my hand in his, and we headed out of school, into the parking lot, and into Leon's car.
"Want to go to my house?"
"Um, yeah." I answered and he drove to his mansion.
Leon opened his house door with his key. "Mom? Um, she is not here."
I entered the house and he closed the door behind me. He took off his shoes and put it next to the door, where all shoes were, which made it look like a parking lot for slippers, sneakers, sandals… I followed his action and stayed in my high socks.
"Let's go." Leon grabbed my hand and ran up the stairs.
On the fifth stair, my 'lucky' leg met the stair and prevented me from continuing up, but Leon didn't stop. I was sure that I am about to fall, but luckily, I pushed backward my foot and forced myself to catch up on Leon, who still had a tight grip on my arm.
We entered his room and I instantly sat on the bed, grabbed a little pillow and hugged it. Leon played what seemed like electronic music from his computer. I couldn't really understand what the singer was saying but I did catch one sentence, saying, ~let me walk for you when your legs are weak.~ I sighed and looked at my leg.
'I wouldn't mind someone walking for me.' I thought to myself.
I looked around Leon's room. It didn't change much since my last visit, except his bed sheets, which were now gray, while previously they were brown.
Leon stood next to me, took my hands in his and pulled me up, thus I was standing next to the brown haired boy. He wrapped his arms around my waist and started to kiss my lips softly. I reacted and wrapped my arms around his neck, lightly rubbing his nape with my nails.
Very soon after, he added more force to the kiss, and in only seconds, I could feel my lips burning with passion. Still, I wasn't kissing back with the equal force. I practically stood next to him, arms around him, as he did the 'work'. I was tired and relaxed my eyes, which were burning for some reason.
Before I could even think of kissing back, he broke the kiss and sat on a chair beside his computer, and started to chat with someone.
I continued to stare at him. When I saw that he wasn't about to come back anytime soon, I closed my weak eyes again and threw myself on the bed.
But I made a quick note in mind; my new school year's resolution: Keep Leon close by, be nicer to my Mom and sister, hang out more often with Selphie (she complained about not seeing me enough during the last months), reconnect with my childhood friends (on top of my mind were mostly Wakka, Tidus... And Riku... And Sora...) and pay extra attention at school this year so that my school's achievements won't drop.
If only I had known... That I'd lose them all.
Thursday, September 4
Roxas
"Move it!" A boy from my class pushed me. He sat next to his friends at the last seats of the bus. They started to play music from their phones and to laugh loudly, making my stomach roll like a washing machine.
Why do I always feel weird near them?
They whispered something and laughed. It wasn't hard to realize they were talking about me, since they pointed directly to my direction, which made them look like those crazy girls who gossip over a cute guy. Yeah, I wish I had that luck, but I knew better that my case is much more complicated than that.
Why do they even use the bus if most of them are filthy rich? They were at the age to drive, and I am sure they could afford a good-looking car…
I sighed and continued to stand. There were empty seats here and there, but I really preferred to stay in my place. I pulled my back-bag to my shoulders when I felt it sliding off. I continued to watch the road. 'Only two more stops and I'm home…'
I wanted so badly to be at home that moment. I just wanted someone to take my hand and run with me as fast as possible, 'till we'll reach there…
Then, I suddenly remembered the song Mom used to sing to me when I was little. She still sings it to me every once in a while. Well, not exactly to me, but I get to hear her while she is cleaning the house or cooking.
Flashbacks from the past ran through my head; how her soft voice used to whisper in my ear, at nights, when I was still a child. How every sound, every word, reached perfectly to me, and its meaning slaughtered every drop of depression I had in my heart.
I closed my eyes and tried to ignore the guys' music, in order to try and recall my Mom's voice. It took me a few seconds, but I managed to hear her in my head, singing lightly, ~let me take the fall, let me take the blame. Let me carry you from Hell, to home again.~
I smiled a bit, but I had to bit my bottom lip in disappointment, or maybe even in shame, when I realized that after a moment, I replaced the memory of Mother's voice with the sound of the music my classmates played from their phones. Without meaning to, I found myself nodding my head according to the music's beat. I didn't like rap, but this song was contagious. I continued to nod my head even more firmly, until I noticed that the music had stopped.
"Roxas… Is it?" I turned around to see the same boy who pushed me, now grinning and crossing his arms proudly across his chest, as if he just won in a big prize or something.
I felt my heart beating like crazy. I nodded. The guy chuckled and I could hear his friend saying something between the lines of, 'What a loser.'
I felt my throat dries, my body starting to heat up and sweat, and something inside of me just… sinking…
Again, her voice echoed in my head, ~let me walk for you, when your legs are weak. Let me find the words for you, when you can't speak.~
'Loser? What for? What have I done to them that make them call me this way? They don't even know me! Um, maybe they just like to pick on me. It seems like they are making fun of weak kids for their living. That, when you come to think about it, makes them the real losers.' I thought as I bit my bottom lip.
Of course, I couldn't bring myself to say my thoughts out loud. No way I'm making that mistake again. Well, I knew it would be hard from the very beginning.
I turned around to hide my pathetic look. 'Two more stations… Just two more stations.' I kept telling myself, in order to relax.
"Hey, aren't you the kid of the cleaner in the hospital?" One of the boys asked, amusement could be heard in his tone. I did not turn around to face them this time.
Mom told me that I had to pull myself together if I want to learn at my new school. I really didn't care; it's not like I gained something at my old school that was worth staying. That's why I thought that maybe a new start wouldn't be so bad. Again, that's what I had thought. But it was only the first week of the school year, and I already hated it. Mostly, because of those idiotic, popular guys.
It all started when I, by mistake, pushed someone with my shoulder in order to pass the hall. Seriously, like it was my fault that they were in one big group and there was no way to pass! They saw it as a push, and were quite angry. They called me 'fucking newbie' and had a cruel look on their faces. They said that if I am planning to stay at this school, I should learn that pushing one of them is not an option.
They made it quite clear, all right. No, they haven't done anything to me in order to prove it, but it was still very obvious that those guys aren't the friendliest.
Honestly… I wasn't even afraid of them. I knew that I looked like a wimp, skinny brat in the student's eyes, who can't fight or defend himself. But I knew what I am capable of. It's not like I was a Judo Master or something, but I knew how to defend myself, if I wanted to.
But here comes my naive Mother into the picture. I had always remained calm and learnt how to bear anything people had said to me, back at my old school. And man, weren't they using some hard language… Anyway, I still managed to ignore them, though they liked to make fun of my Mother and I.
But… Man, oh man. One person at my old school was just pushing it too far, and he couldn't stop it. I couldn't stop myself either. I would never forget his face.
After he called my Mom 'a chick that would do everything to get two bucks', I had frozen dead in the middle of the hall. Then I turned around slowly to face the boy, who smiled and high-fived his friend. The boy turned around to face me and noticed my blank stare on him. He tried to smile again, but even I could notice that he started to wonder what's going on with me. His friends turned around and had a confused expression, too.
As I approached slowly and dramatically towards them, the guy took some steps back. Some of his friends swallowed, but no one of them dared to defend him. The guy breathed deeply and started to sweat.
I can get it. None of them knew my personality. They just knew that I am shutting up most of the time, which gave them the pleasure of picking on me. Too bad they never stopped when they had the chance.
"E-Easy now. I wasn't trying to He tried to defend himself.
I never let him finish his words, since I already rolled my fingers and created a fist, which in no time met his face. His nose was bleeding and his friends were all alerted.
"P-Professor!" One of the friends called as he noticed a teacher walking not so far away. The Professor turned around to see who had called him, but the first thing he saw was a bleeding guy…And me next to him.
As I noticed the Professor running to us, I quickly reacted and threw myself on the pupil, to punch him some more. Then I could feel hands grabbing me and trying to pull me back through the back of my collar. Obviously, the friends were helping the teacher.
'Yeah, now they are helping…' I thought and tried to get to the guy, who was already beyond my reach.
Sure, I got a punishment and I wasn't allowed to go to school for one week. Some kids would look at it as more of a present, than a punishment, but my Mom took it really hard. When she found out of what I did, she burst into a heart-tearing cry. She blamed herself and her poor intelligence in everything that happens in my life. Man, I wanted to kill myself! How come I never thought of how my Mother would feel is she would hear I was caught in a fight because of her? But I just couldn't help it! Those jerks deserved it so bad.
After the year had finished, my Mother decided to take me to another school. She said that this time, even if the students would say nasty words about our family, I am not allowed to say a word back. I really was trying to keep that promise. And so, there I was at the new school…I hoped deep inside that things would be different; I would meet new friends, kids won't mock me… I wouldn't have to keep quiet any more…
But as you guessed, none of this had happened. The students found out about my hard life, and they weren't making it any better. There I was again, the school's nerd kid who can get mocked on without saying a word back. I was sick of it! But I knew Mom was doing everything for me to learn at the new school, so I kept my mouth shut, and let those jerks to guess if I am her son, or not.
'Okay, next stop is mine. Good. I am so close—dammit! Now the traffic light has to turn red?' I asked myself, yelling in my head at my bad luck.
"Yes, I think it's him. At any way, he is a loser." A friend answered.
Again. Again, again, again! Those kids can't understand either what it is to struggle for your living! Of course, they were born with greens at every second turn they made…
'Green, good! Go! Come on, old lady, move faster… Yes!' The bus started to move and in seconds, it stopped at my neighborhood. The back door opened and I got out. Then I noticed something yet once more; the guys went off the bus as well.
'Okay…Why?' They were living ahead, at the fancy mansions. Not this poor area. 'What's going on?' I asked myself and could feel a drop of sweat coming across my forehead.
~Let me keep you safe from the world outside. Let me wipe away the tears that fill you eyes.~
I continued to walk, holding into the sleeves of my shirt tightly. This was definitely weird. I could tell something bad was about to happen, but I just couldn't figure out what.
Of course, I didn't have to wait for too long. The next think I knew, I felt a hand on my shoulder…
I turned around and before I could think of my name, one of the students pushed me to the ground. The bag on my back softened the hit, playing the armor-role, but it was still painful.
"Ugh!" I tried to get up from the floor, and there I could see the guys running and laughing…
Again, only Mom entered my mind. Only her—the woman I would do anything to please. The only person that I could count on, the only person that meant more than anything did to me…
And there, on the ground, a thought came across my mind. I've heard it quite often; kids were always in such a hurry to think over it at the beginning of each year. I never really paid attention to it, but decided that this time should do.
My new school year's resolution: Be stronger only in order to protect my Mom, the only one I love.
I wish I would have thought back then at the possibility of gaining so much more than that... So much more...
~Let me be your armor, let me be your shield. Let me take away the pain you feel. Let me be the light that guides your way through the darkest nights.~
Part 1/3 of the prologue is done! Hooray! Next chapter is about Sora and Naminé. Oh, and I know this is supposed to be my attempt in writing Drama, yet it's under the Humor category. That's because it's basically a bit out of everything. You know, like in real life?
Music: Let me be your armor, by Assemblage 23.
Just to make sure ("_") is when someone is talking, ('_') is when they are thinking, and (~_~) is the song's lyrics.
Thank you so much for reading it. You're the best! Hope you liked it and see you guys soon (: