a paopu for a promise
- v. gainsborough -
"Pride goeth before the fall." Wasn't that the thing they always said?
If this had been Sora, he easily could have shrugged off the request with an airy "Get it yourself, you're not helpless." If this had been Tidus or Wakka, he wouldn't even need to say anything to them — as it stood, Riku had a sneaking suspicion that sooner or later, Selphie would be deploying them to the tree with everything from chainsaws to rocket launchers in a passionate attempt to retrieve one from the branches.
But in the end, none of them had brought up the matter at all. No, it had been Kairi — sweet, sunny Kairi, and she had asked him "if it would be okay" for him to get her a paopu fruit.
"It's a really random thing, isn't it?" she giggled a bit awkwardly. "I was thinking about the legend a few days ago. You don't have to, I just thought maybe —"
Waving her off casually, he'd answered, "It's nothing. Don't worry about it."
At that time, he'd found it somewhat odd how much a simple fruit could make her face light up. But then again, that was Kairi. "Great! Thank you so much!" And with a grateful smile, she was gone.
Unfortunately for him, it would prove to be quite more than just "nothing".
Several hours later, completely waterlogged from head to toe, Riku made his return. He slowly and wearily raised a hand, the fruits of his labor caught firmly in his fingers, as if merely loosening his grip would cause the thing to wiggle free, run off, and affix itself to the tree again.
Still, he looked up, the slightest trace of a triumphant grin upon his features. "Got it."
Kairi smiled brighter and wider than any time he'd seen before, and Riku thought that maybe, just every now and then, it would be worth the complete sacrifice of any pride he still had in him to see that kind of reaction.
But maybe on just one condition.
"Please don't tell Sora about this," he mumbled, gloved palm against his face in a meager attempt at hiding his shame.
Kairi just laughed. "It's our little secret."