Banner by: Rianka-chan.
~*~*~*~*~*~
That night, I had a weird dream. It was too long to remember; but a part got stuck in my brain. Riku stood before me, and his eyes were sorrowful, again. They blazed into mine with intensity. “Forgive me, Lenne.” He turned around, starting to walk away.
All of my muscles urged me forward, wanting nothing but to embrace him, right then and there; but I still didn’t move. I still didn’t launch at him, and hold him, wrap my arms around him like I should. I still didn’t grab his wrist, turn him around, and do the thing I longed for most.
~*~*~*~*~*~
I woke up, tangled... confused, and downright edgy. My stomach was making weird flips. As I sat, I noticed a tall figure standing before me. I looked up, finding the brunette Keyblade Wielder.
“Good morning!” he enthused, offering me a hand.
“Hey, Sora.” I mumbled, yawning sleepily, as I took his hand in mine, getting on my feet.
Sora chuckled. “How’d you sleep?” he asked.
“Mmmm, I don’t know. I kept dreaming...” I complained.
“Aha! Why didn’t you sleep with the girls? Bisho was furious when he found out you-”
I interrupted. “I wanted to be alone.” I said in monotone.
“Well, have you come across Riku?” Sora asked; I shook my head. “No one can seem to find him.” Sora frowned.
“Don’t worry.” I grinned. “Riku’s very strong. He’ll be alright!” I tapped his shoulder, affectionately.
It seemed to reach him. “Thanks.” He returned my grin with a bashful one. I stifled a laugh. “Oh, by the way... everyone has gone out. So, you’re stuck with me... and... well, everyone already had breakfast, so I made you some.” He smiled.
I giggled, not feeling left out, surprisingly. “Aww, Sora, that’s too sweet! But, Sora... why’d you stay behind?” I asked.
He scratched the back of his head. “Well...” he paused, debating which words fit the most. “I was... kinda wondering if you’d... look for him with me... you two have been close, and I think you know him more than I do...” Sora mumbled.
“Oh, well... since you went through all the trouble of making me breakfast, I guess I owe you that much!” I smiled back.
~*~*~*~*~*~
We wandered the crowded streets, looking for the silver-haired. Sora had said he searched the whole castle, with no success. I stood in the midst of the rampage in town, staring around. “Sora, isn’t there some place secluded in this world?” I asked.
“There’s a free space, leading to the waterfalls.” He answered, absentmindedly.
Bingo! “Riku must be there. C’mon. Lead the way!” I enthused.
Sora started running, “You’re so smart!” he commented as we ran.
“Thanks.” I replied, following him easily. “Sora, why are we running?” I asked.
“Ughh, I don’t know.” He started laughing, as he slowed down. “Is this better?” he asked.
I smiled. “I didn’t mind the run; I just was wondering if you are hiding something.” I hinted.
“I’m the worst liar you’d ever cross, so, no.” He replied softly.
“If it makes you feel any better, I’m a bad liar, too.” I said quietly.
He smiled. “King Mickey says it proves how pure you are, if you can’t lie.” Sora patted my head.
I grinned, letting him show some affection. Why do I want it to be that someone? “Sora, how much further?” I asked, impatiently. The truth is, I wanted to see him, yeah.
“Not very much, just a couple more minutes.” Sora replied, staring ahead. “Getting tired?” he smirked.
“Nah... I just wanted to do something today...” I trailed.
“Oh, yeah. Like what?” he asked.
“Sshhh.” I covered his mouth with my hand. The sound of crashing swords could be heard from where we were. I immediately picked up my pace, following the sound impeccably. Sora was close behind. I summoned my black beloved sword, readying myself for battle.
As we reached an opening, Riku deflected an attack from an elder man. He had long silver hair, and green aquatic eyes. He fought with a very long sword, sharp-looking as well.
“Riku!” Sora shouted.
“Stay back, Sora!” Riku yelled, distracted.
“No way! You don’t know how tough Sephiroth is!” Oops, is that an insult?
I held back, tightening my grip on my sword. Riku didn’t look to be in his best shape; this place was wearing him out. He was deflecting, but attacking too slowly for his opponent. I kept my eyes on this Sephiroth, examining his attacks; they were lithe and stealthy, like a snake’s. Riku wasn’t responding; sneaky moves like that inquired speed and attentiveness.
Sora stepped forward, to help his friend, and I grabbed him by his collar, pulling him backwards. “Hold your fire; give your friend a shot.” I smiled.
“Lenne, you don’t know Riku; he’s in his weakest.” Sora complained.
My stomach made a funny flip. “Still... he’ll be angry at you. And if he was defeated, you’d finally have something against him.” I winked.
Sora considered, and then turned his head to watch the battle. Riku got himself slashed around his chest, but the sword didn’t go through his body. I felt myself launch forward, forgetting anything I’ve said. Sora gripped my higher arm, stopping me. “We’re one hell of an irrational pair!” he grinned.
I sighed, grinding my teeth together. I watched silently afterwards.
Riku’s sudden groan, got me all tense; he was fighting a scream, just so he doesn’t look weak upon his companions. What a jackass! Riku dropped to his knees, slowly; his Keyblade a few inches away. “Ughhh.” And he fell to the ground.
“SORA! TAKE HIM TO AERITH! I’LL HANDLE THIS!” My unbelievable haste in handling the situation blew Sora off guard. I knew this was coming. I flung at Sephiroth; full speed, full strength. I was keeping too much anger in; poor Sephiroth.
My full speed has caught him off guard, that’s for sure; he barely deflected my harmful attack. I took that chance, and jumped high in the air, pulling Artemis from my pocket; I shot him right in the leg, but he deflected it by his sword.
Damn him! He’s fast! I jumped back, leaving space between us. “SORA! DON’T STARE! DRAG RIKU TO AERITH! USE THIS!” I threw a materia ball from my pocket in their direction; it crashed on the floor, and a motorcycle popped.
“Whoa! You’re always too handy!” Sora dragged Riku, placing him in front, then he sat behind Riku, reaching the grip, his arms round the unconscious Riku. Sora revved the engine after a few tries. “Whoa~!” and they were out of sight.
“Why are you fighting me, child?” the silver-haired man asked, a smirk playing around the corners of his lips.
“Will you let me walk away, unharmed?” I challenged, readying myself, my sword at the ready.
“Hah! Smart kid. Well, unfortunately, your smartness won’t help you in this one.” He pulled back his sword, and then sloshed it forward, in my direction.
I gripped my sword tight, activating its ability. My sword split in two, giving me an extra sword. I stopped his attack before it cut my arm off, and counterattacked by my new companion. I managed to give him a cut around his shoulder blade.
The two of us backed of, readying ourselves for a new round of combat. I ran forward, my swords protecting me gracefully, and I crashed my sword against his long one.
And we began our own waltz.
His sudden motivation to kill me kicked in, and soon, I found his long sword halfway through my stomach. Blood spluttered out of my mouth immediately, as my head fell down in defeat. My hands were occupied by my last hope of victory.
A last materia, Mikey has made for me. It was my last chance, and I gleefully took it. I threw it in between his legs, and it crashed. I was hardly able to stand, with his sword, still in my guts, but I managed to escape before the materia ball blew under him. I was thrown forward by the intensity of the explosion, and I landed on my front, his damned sword slashing through me even more.
My vision was blurry, but a man walked to me. I couldn’t make out his face or anything but the fact that he was dressed in a black tux. He pushed me back, holding me steady by my head, and pulled the sword back, out of my cut-through stomach...
~*~*~*~*~*~
I opened my eyes, and I was still in the same spot I was in. And it still was daylight. Wonder how many days I’ve been out... I stood up, and a twitching pain averted from my stomach. It wasn’t too painful, I must admit. So, I started walking, mostly crawling, my way back to the castle.
When I arrived, I noticed that I wasn’t bleeding, at all. Only my dress was bloodstained.
“YOU’RE ALIVE!” Sora shouted, as soon as I entered the castle, through the hall.
“Yeah, Sora, I’m ok.” I giggled.
“Holy crow, look at all the blood.” Aerith snapped, walking towards me.
And that was when I saw him. My body reacted on its own accord again, and I walked past Aerith, my body bumping hers, but I couldn’t care. I stood before his laying, weak figure. “How is he?” I asked, my gaze never leaving his peaceful face.
“He looked hopeless; but he wasn’t really that bad when I got him. The exhaustion wore him out eventually, not Sephiroth.” Aerith explained. “C’mon, let me see your wounds.” She ordered.
“They’re already treated. It’s just my dress.” I mumbled.
“Treated? You treated them?” she asked.
“No. I wasn’t in the shape... someone did. I don’t know who he was... I didn’t see his face.” I explained, still staring at Riku.
“Ah. Well, don’t you want to change your dress?” Sora asked.
“In a minute.” I mumbled, lazily.
“So... how was fighting him?” Sora asked, curious.
“It was a change,” I mumbled.
“...that’s all?” Sora asked.
“Well, I ended up blowing him up, so...” I shrugged.
“And fun for you, is almost dying?” Sora asked.
“Of course, where’s the fun without the fear?” I asked back.
“That’s-”
“Wrong.” The voice interrupting Sora made me turn around. Bisho stood at the doorway. “You shouldn’t have fought Sephiroth.” He said.
“But I-”
“You won, because Riku was fighting him before you.” Bisho reasoned.
“That’s not fair.” I crossed my arms onto my chest. “Riku wasn’t half fighting. Is that how you compare my strength?” I challenged.
“Yes.”
My eyes widened, and my eyebrows raised. “Meet me outside, Bishalion.” I muttered, walking outside.
“You can’t beat me, especially now, you’re just recovering from-”
“Meet me outside.” I closed the door.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Bisho never came out. It was around midnight, but I still stayed out. Someone walked out. I turned around, expecting him; only it wasn’t him. It was Cloud.
“Lenne...” he spoke, sitting next to me.
“What?”
“Don’t fight with him; he won’t fight you.” Cloud said.
“Who does he think he is? He didn’t even see the battle to judge me!” I snapped.
“I know. He’s just pushing you forward. He wants you to be stronger.” Cloud said.
“Pushing me forward, my ass! He never trusted me, and never believed in me, in the first place. It was all an act! But I’ll show him, what I’m capable of.”
“What about you fight me and Leon, first?” Cloud asked.
“Umm, why so?” I asked.
“Well, let’s make a map of strengths!” he exclaimed, pulling a branch from the ground. “The least toughest here... are Kairi and Aerith.” He wrote their names, then made an arrow upwards. “Then, I’ll have to say... Donald, Goofy, Cid and Yuffie. Then, there’s Sora and you. I think you’re a bit higher than he is. Then comes Mikey, Tom... I don’t know where to categorize Roy-”
“Roy’s as tough as Bisho.” I muttered, refusing to believe that myself.
“Oh, alright; well Mikey, Tom, myself, and Leon.” He drew.
“Riku’s as tough as you guys?” I asked, in disbelief, noticing he still hadn’t written his name.
“Yes, believe it or not; that brat is tough. His level is higher than us, when he’s in best shape.” Cloud said, dissatisfied. “Then comes Riku. After that, the highest are Roy and Bisho.”
I groaned. “I must fight Sora, then you guys, then Riku, then Roy, then Bisho!” I complained. “That’s long! I wanna be strong, quickly!” I grunted.
“Haha, it doesn’t come easy.” Cloud chuckled.
I raised an eyebrow. I’ve never heard Cloud laugh before. “Cloud...”
“Hmm?”
“Keep an eye on Roy, okay?” I mumbled, doodling onto the ground with my index finger.
“Don’t worry, Lenne. If I’m not watching him; Leon is.” He said, staring at me.
“Cloud...”
“Yes?”
“Thanks.” I stood up, ruffled his hair, and walked inside. I walked straight to Riku’s side, sat on the chair beside him.
My hands wandered to his own, and rested onto it. It was so cold in my too warm hands. I grasped his hand tight in both of mine.
Riku’s chest heaved, and he smiled. It was so beautiful. He was so beautiful. He doesn’t smile, so girls don’t hunt him. I giggled to myself.
~*~*~*~*~*~
“I’ve always belonged here, Lenne. Darkness.” He stood, wearing a black cloak.
“Riku... what are you saying?” my eyes wandered around us. The only light was emerging from me. “Where are we? Why did you bring me here?” I asked him.
“I brought you here... because...” he went silent. “We’re in The World of Darkness. It’s the only place we can meet, without causing damage.”
“Riku, you don’t make any sense!” I shouted, jumping onto him, hugging him, wrapping my arms and legs around him.
Riku froze. Slowly, his arms slithered around my waist, and he held me. I looked up to him, and moved my hand to remove his hood. His hand flew to my hand, holding it away from his face. I noticed his skin color was different.
“A-are you ok?” I asked.
He snickered.
“Ri-Riku...” I finally summoned enough courage, and kissed his hidden lips.
