Author's Note: Hey there! This is my first published (at least online) shounen-ai (boy's love) fic. And I think this is definitely a good way to start off my writing. Anyways, I can't take all of the credit. Thanks to my friends for helping me with ideas and betaing it. And major, worshipping thanks to Squaresoft (before it was Squenix) and Disney for coming out with this holy game! Now, on to the story!

Deep Darkness

Sometimes when you're attracted to someone, you can't always tell right away. Sometimes it's a little too obvious. But, you are almost always left with an odd feeling in the pit of your stomach when you have competition. Depression of doubt; fear of what you might lose; hatred towards your foe. For some, they would give up anything in the struggle for what they love. Even if it means falling into shadow.

Chapter 1

Tada hitori de unmei wasurete

The silver-haired boy picked up the log and slung it over his shoulder. It was drift wood; large, light, and easy to work with. Perfect for a makeshift raft. He started back to where his two younger friends, Sora and Kairi, were talking.

"But you know… I wouldn't mind going to see it." Kairi was referring to her home, or at least where she was before she ended up on Destiny Island.

"I'd like to see it too. Along with any other worlds out there! I want to see 'em all!" Sora grinned dreamily as he thought about what was out there beyond their island.

"So what're we waiting for?' Kairi grinned.

"Hey," Riku protested as he walked over. "Aren't you guys forgetting about me?" He smiled smugly. "So, I guess I'm the only one working on the raft." He tossed the log at Sora as he walked to Kairi, who ended up not catching it in time. "And you're just as lazy as he is!"

Kairi giggled. "So you noticed. Okay, we'll finish it together! I'll race you!"

"Huh?" Sora looked at her as if she had just gone insane.

Riku, in the mean time, had just sat down next to Sora. "What, are you kidding?"

"Ready? Go!"

Sora and Riku glanced at each other and took off, each slowing or hastening to keep up with the other. Kairi followed them, giggling her head off. At the end of the race, which had ended in a tie between the two boys, Riku went off to his usual spot on the paopu tree, watching the ocean. As he waited for Sora and Kairi to finish collecting things for the raft, he let his mind wander.

This time it went to the image of Kairi and Sora together. At the time, it hadn't really affected him. But now the distant feeling of jealousy came over him. But why? He didn't understand why it seemed to toy with him now. It hadn't ever before, not even when he first saw them. He shrugged it off. "Hormones…" he muttered. He collected his thoughts and brought them back to thinking about the trip the three friends had planned for the day after tomorrow.

"Hey Riku!" a voice behind called out to him. "Daydreaming again?"

Riku jumped down with a laugh, letting Sora and Kairi climb up on the tree. The three looked out at the sunset as they always did before heading home.

"So Kairi's home is out there somewhere, right?" Sora inquired of Riku

"Could be. We'll never know by staying here."

"But how far could a raft take us?"

"Who knows? If we have to, we'll think of something else."

"So, suppose you get to another world," Kairi laughed a little nervously. "What would you do there?

"Well," Riku looked down, thinking, "I haven't really thought about it. It's just; I've always wondered why we're on this island. If there are any other worlds out there, why did we end up on this one? And suppose there are other worlds…" He looked back out over the water. "Then ours is just a little piece of something much greater. So we could have just as easily ended up somewhere else," He looked up at them, "Right?"

"I dunno…" Sora leaned back against the tree.

"That's why we need to go out there and find out. Just sitting here won't change a thing. It's the same old stuff. So let's go."

"You've been thinking a lot lately, haven't you?" Kairi asked.

"Thanks to you. If you hadn't come here, I probably would've never thought of any of this. Kairi, thanks."

"Heh, you're welcome."

The three started walking back, Sora and Riku lagging behind.

Once Kairi was inside the tiny shack, Riku called out "Sora." Sora turned around and caught something being thrown at him. "You wanted one, didn't you?"

"A paopu fruit...."

"If two people share one, their destinies become intertwined. They'll remain a part of each others lives no matter what," He said walking by Sora. "C'mon, I know you wanna try it."

"What are you talking-"

Riku cut him off laughing, attempting to hide his feelings about Sora's reply. He ran back to the boats and Sora followed after tossing away the paopu.


Riku sat at a desk in his room under the window. He was slouching, pen in hand, and was looking out the window at their tiny island, trying to come up with a list of supplies to bring with them on their tip. He had so far come up with fresh water, coconuts, and fish. He sighed to himself as he let his mind slip to the scene with Sora earlier. Maybe…I really do like Sora…But then…

"Riku?" his mother called up the stairs. "Dinner's ready, you coming to eat?"

He straightened, coming back from his thoughts. "Oh, no thanks… I'm not really hungry."

"Are you feeling alright, dear?"

Riku stiffened as she said "dear." It was something he hated to be called, but would never tell his mother about. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just not hungry is all."

He went back to the list and wrote a few more things down. Maybe I'm thinking too much about this…I mean, he probably doesn't even think the same anyway…Besides, Riku looked back out of the window. He's got Kairi


"There, that should be good enough…" Riku reassured himself the next evening as he pulled the raft up from the water. It would be the end to their hopes if the raft drifted off from high tide. He walked back to the docks where Sora and Kairi were waiting for him.

"Sora, let's take the raft and go—just the two of us!"

Riku stopped as he heard Kairi's voice. I…He didn't need to hear anymore of this. He ran back to the hidden cave he and Sora had once found when they were little. When he reached the back of the cave and glaring at the door, he kicked it. "This is all your fault! If you hadn't shown up, this never would have happened!" He sat down; furious with himself rather than the inanimate object he was taking it out on.

From behind him, a voice called from the shadows. "But you have been chosen."

A/N: Mwahaha! Cliffhanger! Yes, anyways. Wow, that was short… I hope you liked it, there shall be many more chapters following if they all end up going this slowly, heh. And chances are, even if they go quickly, there will be many more! Er, so long as my muses give me something to work with. Oh, and yeah, I know I skipped the race, but I couldn't figure out how to use it and still have the story go the way I want. Well, see you next chapter, and please rate! Flames, encouragement, ideas, anything! I'd like to know your opinion! Sore mo yoroshiku!