Chapter Three: Crossover
Unfortunately for Emiline Soleil DesCoteaux, she didn't have a cute bone in her body. It wasn't like she had a cute face, and God knows she NEVER acted cute. She left that sort of thing to Karen. Which is exactly why Emi was skipping band AGAIN. To get cuteness lessons from Karen. But, before she could start her lessons, she had to actually ask Seifer out. One a date. How gross.
She paced around their room, gripping her drumsticks. The sticks bounced up and down in the air as she beat an invisible drum. Or Seifer's big, smug, head, as she imagined. "So...not...cool," she muttered. Karen, from the bathrrom, yelled "Either you do it, or Hayner gets his face punched in." Emi collapsed into a bean bag chair on Karen's side of the room. Just the thought of Hayner's bloodied face made her sick. Then again, so did the thought of her and Seifer reenacting the spaghetti scene from "The Lady and the Tramp".
She groaned and slipped her feet into a pair of foam flip flops. She stood up wearily and yelled "All right, all right, I'm going." "That's what you said the last five times," called Karen, with a chuckle. Emi laughed sarcastically and stalked out the door, slamming it. Karen busied herself in the bathroom, getting stuff together. Every bit of make up she owned was spread out on the counter. She had a cute outfit picked out for Emi and the flat iron was plugged up and warming. Not that Karen thought it could actually help Emi's seriously poofy hair.
How was Karen so sure all of this would be needed tonight? Karen had watched Seifer... there was no way he was going to turn down a date with Emi. And there was no way he was going to wait another day. So... she would have to be quick with Emi's torture.
Emi made her way to the Sandlot. It was twilight. Huh, thought Emi. It's twilight in Twilight Town. How ironic. It had finally cooled off a little. She hoped sweating like a pig was a big turn off for Seifer. Which she doubted. Can pigs even sweat? she thought.
Emi peeked around the corner into the Sandlot. There he was, looking all...ticked off. Emi had to admit, being able to stay angry THAT long was sort of endearing. Ew, no, she thought, shaking her head. Against her better judgement, she stepped out into the open. Seifer's head snapped towards her, like he had some sort of homing beacon inside his head. Emi started sneering, but she remembered just in time to force her thin lips into a sour smile.
She walked up to him, taking long strides. He walked up to meet her in the middle. Rai and Fuu had obviously been told to stay back, because they weren't attached to Seifer at the hip, as usual. "Hi, Seifer," she said, averting her stare and trying to sound sweet. Seifer chuckled. "What are you doing here," he asked. Emi almost gagged. Seifer was so close to cooing. "Did you come to apologize?"
"Uh, yeah," mumbled Emi. Okay, she thought, better make this realistic. "Actually, yeah. I'm really sorry , Seifer. But, you know how it is..." She ducked her head and looked up at him under her eyelashes. She was going for a shy schoolgirl feel here. And Seifer ate it up. The look on his face was begging for more. All right, she thought. Maybe this won't be so bad. He'll be crushed when I rip his heart out. It's not everyday you got to torture Seifer.
Emi held her forearm and poked at the ground with her foot. "I was just...um...so nervous. Being around you makes me that way," she said, forcing out the sweetness. "I'm always so terrible to you. But really, you know it's just because I really like you, Seifer-kun." Seifer smiled. Emi was in hysterics on the inside, but maintained a calm, shy composure. "Why did you turn me down if you like me so much?" asked Seifer. Emi pretended to get weepy, putting a finger to her eye. "Oh, Seifer, I'm sorry, I really am. It's just that I was so afraid I would mess things up."
She sort of got carried awasy. She put both her hands to her face and made crying noises. Seifer said, trying to be consoling, "Oh, you didn't mess anything up at all. All you need to do to redeem yourself is agree to go on one little date with me. After one date, I'm sure you won't want anyone else."
Emi looked up like she was unbelieving and relieved. "Really? That's all?" she exclaimed. She had to force her self, but she threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck. She could strangle him SO easy, but she didn't. She knew he was smiling smugly as he wrapped his arms tightly around her waist. "I would love to go on one, little date with you," she said, pulling away from him. "Tonight? I...don't think I can wait another day."
"Sure, tonight," said Seifer, reluctant to let her go. When he finally did let her go, he said "Meet me at the Tram Common at eight. Beside the Synthesis Workshop." Emi nodded, batting her eyes for good measure. By the way Seifer's eyes lit up, she was guessing it looked realistic and NOT like she was trying to get something out of her eye. Maybe she was TOO good at being cute. Seifer suddenly stroked the side of her face. Emi stiffened, her breath catching in her throat. With a nervous laugh, she ran. As she sped off back to her dorm, she swore she heard Seifer say "See, Rai? I told you she'd come around."
Karen was waiting at the door when Emi burst in. She looked like she was about to burst a blood vessel in her forehead. She stormed past Karen and flung herself onto her bed. "That was the most embarrasing, mortifying, humilating thing EVER," she yelled, muffled by the pillow. Karen giggled and sat on her own bed. "I'll take it it worked then, huh?" she asked. Emi sat up, pulling strands of black hair out of her mouth. "Yeah, it worked," she spat. "It worked a little TOO well. I really laid it on thick, I'm afraid."
"So you and Seifer are going out on a date?" Karen asked. Emi groaned. "Yeah. Do you think you can work a miracle in three hours?" Karen laughed "Tonight? Geez, Emi, you're really good at this." "Dang it, Karen. Quit mocking me and make me up and teach me the way of the Care Bear." "Rightio," said Karen, hopping up and grabbing her best friend's wrist. Emi was forcibly hauled into the bathroom and forced into a small stool in front of the mirror. Her knees came almost up to her chin.
Karen got to work with a bottle of detangler, a comb, and the flat iron. It took nearly an hour and forty five minutes, but finally, Emi's hair was slightly less poofy and a little more shiny than usual. And Emi had an hour and forty-five minutes worth of Care Bear lessons. Everything from body language to the proper use of giggling. Karen insisted she practiced, but Emi felt like a total idiot.
After forcing Emi into a pleated khaki skirt and poofy sleeved lavender blouse, it was back to the bathroom. Emi NEVER wore make-up. Not even lip gloss. Or perfume. Just Chapstick. But, she had to admit when
Karen was done with her, she looked good. Karen looked at her smugly. "I would like to see Hayner reject you now," she muttered. Emi fingered the hair tumbling down her shoulders. It was held back from her dark complexioned face with some butterfly hair clippies. She checked the time, brushed her teeth, checked the time, sprayed on some perfume that smelled like Care Bears and ponies and lollipops in summer, checked the time and shoved some things into a handbag. Her cell phone, chapstick, munny, a manga (which she always carried with her anyways) and her drumsticks (which she also always carried with her).
She tried to sneak past Karen in flip-flops but Karen dragged her back inside and forced her feet into some strappy, high heeled sandals. With a hug for good luck, Emi was on her way. One of the straggling boarding students was lounging in the hallway. He looked up at her through his bangs and his jaw dropped. Emi stuck out her tongue and kept walking.
The Tram Common was bustling at evening. Emi walked across, her long legs feeling bare in the skirt. She hung around the Synthesis Shop, leaning against the wall. She felt a hand settle gently on her upper arm. Her head snapped up and she found herself looking into Seifer's eyes. She averted her gaze, genuinely blushing. His eyes WERE nice.... Emi stood up straight, holding her amrs close to her like she was cold. Seifer looked at her, unbelieving. It was like all of his wildest dreams were coming true.
"You look really nice tonight," he said, taking her hand. Emi resisted all urges to snatch her hand away, snatch that stupid toboggan of his head and smack him with it until he was lying on the ground in a fetal position, begging for mercy. Instead, she did what Karen told her to do. She acted cute. She giggled and turned her head away. She looked back shyly, expecting to see a look of disgust on his face.
She didn't. All she saw was happiness. Which was stange to see on Seiger's face. Emi's heart sank. She didn't think she was going to have to hurt him. And, why wasn't being cute working? If Seifer found Emi's rebellious attitude attractive, why didn't the cuteness turn him off? Maybe, she thought. Maybe I just need to give it more time.
Seifer tugged on her hand and started walking. This date was going to be very simple. Just walk around and look at the shops. Emi was totally out of her element. Seifer kept looking at her strangely. And he kept a tight hold on her hand, very tight.
They walked around for an hour while Seifer talked about stuff Emi couldn't have honestly given a crap about. She was SO glad when her cell phone rang, the polyphonic ringtone barely audible over the clamor of voices in the Tram Common. She jerked her hand out of Seifer's and excused her self. She got out of ear shot and answered. It was Karen. "How's it going?" she asked. Emi bit her lip. "Not good. I'm being as cute as I can, but he seems to like that just as much as the, uh, real me."
Karen thought for a moment while Emi looked over her shoulder nervoudly. Seifer was leaning against a wall, his gaze turned downwards. He looked a little ticked. "Okay. The only thing I can think of is....well, you'd yell at me if I told you," said Karen. She sounded like she was eating something. Emi sighed. "I promise I won't yell. I'm desperate, just tell me."
So Karen told her and Emi broke her promise. "NO! I'M NOT DOING THAT. THERE HAS GOT TO BE A BETTER WAY!" she screamed. People stared with raised eyebrows. Karen winced. Emi had sceamed so loud the speaker on the phone distorted. "Look," said Karen. "Unless you can think of something better, you basically have two choices. Either my way, or you run away. Which isn't really a chouse, because you know Seifer will follow you. He'll want answers. But you need to hurry up and make a decision. It's past curfew."
Emi bit her lip. "Crap," she said and hung up. This was going to kill her, absolutely kill her. She turned on her heel and stalked back towards Seifer, shoving her phone in her purse as she went. She switched from totally ticked off to totally weepy. "Oh, Seifer," she sobbed, running to him. She covered her face. "I'm so sorry but... this isn't working. I can't be with you. You're just too good for me."
Seifer looked utterly confused. Emi draped herself across his shoulders, resting her nose on his chest. "But," she she said, her voice high and breathy. "I would...like to leave you with at least one good memory of me."
Seifer was trying to look non-chalant, but Emi could feel his hearts racing under her face. Emi internally kicked herself, hard, and then grabbed Seifer by the back of his head. She squeezed her eyes shut and crushed her lips against his. Seifer's eyes widened. Three seconds later, Emi ripped her face away from his and FLEW.
When she turned the corner, she stopped and spat on the ground. She wiped the back of her hand against he rmouth. "Ugh. Gross, gross, gross," she whined, jumping around. Then, she began to run.
~Thirty Minutes Earlier~
Sora was experiencing some serious deja vu. His eyes fluttered open and he found himself sitting on the ground. His legs were sprawled out in front of him. He was leaning against a wall, and when he looked around, Riku was no where to be seen. Now all he needed was a strangely yellow dog to come and lick his face.
It took him a moment to realize where he was. He looked up and and saw a sign glowing through the brown spikes of his hair. There were two arrows on the sign, one pointing to the left and one to the right. Sora looked to the left and saw a huge "3" painted on the wall in red paint. No Riku. He looked to the right. A little ways down, there was a giant blue "2", but not Riku.
He knew where he was now. The Underground Concourse, in Twilight Town. Wow, they sure were lucky! Well, they were if Riku made it. Sora stood up and looked around. "Riku!" he called. And then suddenly, there he was, walking down some stairs underneath the huge two. "Do you know where we are?" he asked as he walked over.
Sora nodded. "Yeah. Twilight Town. We can look for that Karen girl later. I want to go visit Hayner and the others again. Besides, we need Pence's help with the computer," he explained. Riku shrugged. "Okay. I'm following you. I don't know anything about this place." Sora laughed and motioned for Riku to follow him.
They walked out of the Underground Concourse and right into the Back Alley. Sora smiled as they walked up to the chain length fence that seperated Hayner, Pence, and Olette's hideout from the rest of the alley. He could hear voices as he bushed back the sheet. Those voice belonged to Pence, Hayner and Olette, and they stopped when they saw Sora.
"Whoa," said Pence."When'd you get here?" Sora shrugged "Maybe... five minutes ago?" Hayner hopped up and held up his hand for a high-five. Sora slapped Hayner's hand, and waved to Olette, who was sitting on the lumpy couch. She was staring at Riku. Sora realized they had never met Riku before. "Oh. This is my best friend, Riku," he said, pointing at his silver-haired friend. Hayner remembered. "Oh yeah," he murmured. "The one you were looking for."
"The very one," said Riku with a small smile. Sora said "I have a question for you guys." "Ask away," said Hayner. Pence and Olette nodded complacently. Sora crossed his arms. "Any chance you guys would want to come with us to the old mansion? We need Pence's help with the computer there. We're sort of on a mission."
"Sure," said Hayner, shrugging. "What's your buisness with the computer?" "We need to get into the virtual Twilight Town. We're looking for someone," answered Sora.
So they all headed out. It was maybe a fifteen minute walk to the Old Mansion. The gate was closed and locked. Sora frowned. "What should we do?" asked Olette. Riku was already working on what he thought was a solution. He grabbed the gate and scrambled up, straddling the top of the gate for a few seconds before throwing himself off. "Show off," muttered Sora, as Riku backflipped in mid-air and landed gracefully on the balls of his feet, in a crouch.
Sora rolled his eyes and shrugged at his amazed friends. "He likes to show off," he told them. He turned to the gate and laughed in Riku's face. "You know I could've just used my Keyblade, right?" Riku looked a little pouty as he stood up and crossed his arms. Sora stepped back and held out his Keyblade, unlocking the gate with a beam of light from the blade's tip.
The gate swung open and they all walked through. Sora punched Riku lightly on the arm. Riku punched him a little harder. They got into a little tussle, but Hayner, Pence and Olette kept walking. Riku pinned Sora to the ground with his foot. After pushing down so that Sora was gasping for breath and begging for mercy, Riku smiled, laughing a little, looking down at his friend flailing around on the ground. When was he going to learn?
Riku helped Sora up as Hayner yelled "Come on, let's hurry. Mom wants me back before dinner!" They walked into the mansion and up the stairs into the library. It was still strange to see the huge hole in the floor, filled with technology and metal, next to the plush interior of the library. They bounded down the stairs. They reached the computer back and Pence sat down, cracking his fingers like a concert pianist. He began to type, searching for the program that allowed them to acsess to the virtual Twilight Town. It didn't
take him long, maybe two minutes.
"I....can't remember the password," he muttered. He swirled in his chair to face Sora. "Sora?" he asked. Sora nodded. "It's 'sea salt ice cream'. Easy..." he said. Over to the side, Riku's eyes flashed peculilary. Nobody noticed. Pence typed in the password and the beam of light appeared. Pence swirled around again and suddenly everyone ws staring at Sora and Riku.
Riku looked a little surprised. After a few good-byes and a reassurance that they would be back soon, Sora touched the beam and dissapeared. Riku looked back at them and shrugged. He touched the beam too, and dissapeared into the virtual Twilight Town.
When Riku opened his eyes, he was looking at Sora. They seemed to be in the same place. The only difference was the smashed computers and the absence of their friends. "Let's go," Sora said cheefully. And they walked up the stairs and left.
Walking down Station Heights at evening was lovely. Sora and Riku stuck together, looking around for anyone they thought might be Karen. Nobody really jumped out at them. "Maybe we should ask someone," mentioned Riku.
But then they noticed a commotion down at the bottom of the hill, at the entrance to the Sandlot. There was a girl dancing about and putting her hand to her nouth. She looked pretty disgusted, and now she was running right towards them!
She meant to go between them. Riku and Sora tried to step out of her way, parting like the Red Sea. But the girl made the mistake of trying to push Riku out of the way by his shoulder. She would have made it had she not lost one of her high-heeled sandals. She sailed forward and landed on her face, dragging Riku down with her. He landed on her back.
Sora laughed at them and helped Riku up. Riku, in turn, helped the dark haired girl up. And, boy, was she TALL. As tall as Riku on bare feet, but the heels made her even taller. Her jet hair was poofy and windswept.
"Sorry," she apologized. Her accent sounded different, but somehow familiar. Riku noticed but Sora didn't seem to. Riku looked puzzled as he stooped down to pick up her missing shoe. Sora tapped his chin. "Hey, we're looking for someone. Do you think you can help us?" he asked. The girl slipped back into her shoes. "Maybe. It's the least I can do after almost breaking your friend's neck," she said, rubbing her nose. "Who are you people, anyway?"
"I'm Sora and the one you almost killed is Riku," said Sora. She kept rubbing her nose. "I'm Emi. Now, who are you looking for?" Riku's eyes glinted in the same way they did back in the computer room. Her voice....
"A girl named Karen Kano," answered Sora. Emi's sour expression turned into a smile. She burst into loud, rowdy, gasping laughter. Riku and Sora looked at each other doubtfully. She laughed for a while and finally settled down. She wiped a tear from her eye and said "Man, you guys are lucky! I just happen to be Karen's best friend. Do you want me to call her?"
Sora and Riku nodded vigirously. Emi dug around in her purse and pulled out a little purple cell phone. She pushed a few buttons and put it to her ear, looking at the two boys expectantly.
"Hey," she said. "There are two cute boys looking for you. What should I do?'" Sora and Riku blushed a little. The conversation continued a little while and then Emi nodded and said "Okay. See you in a sec." She terminated the call and looked at Sora and Riku...
"Right then. Follow me," she said, and started walking.
