Riku just stood there. "Don't cry, Riku. Don't. You're tough." He thought to himself.
He cried anyway.
Seeing his best friends together, happy, made him smile. But that love never went away.
It just wouldn't leave.
Sora and Kairi. Not Riku and Kairi. That part killed.
He regretted going to the dark side. He sorely regretted it. No matter how many times he said sorry, she'd never look at him the same way.
Sora was her hero. That's what she saw, that's what she would remember. She'd also remember that he had stolen her heart for the Keyhole.
But it wasn't him.
Ansem did it. He wasn't himself when that happened. The darkness had taken over, and Maleficent had convinced him, and...
"Stop making excuses. It was your fault, and now you have to live with the consequenses. You can't change the past, no matter how hard you wish."
He felt a tear drop run down his face and hit his chest. He felt so stupid, just standing there, facing the ocean, and crying.
He wondered what could've been if he hadn't made that mistake. Could Kairi have loved him?
He sunk to his knees in the sand. The warm water hit his knees, and the waves soothed his mind. He knew he was going to survive, if Kairi loved him or not. He turned around to look at Kairi and Sora hugging. A sight that overjoyed him and pained him.
He heard a bit of what they were saying. "I love you Kairi. More than you know." Sora whispered. "I know." Kairi whispered back.
He was overcome with emotion. Not just happiness, but jealousy, anger, heartbrokeness, hatred, and devastation.
He pounded the ocean and buried his face in his hands. He didn't care if he looked like a fool, he just sobbed. Sobbed for himself, sobbed for the people he hurt, sobbed for that love that would never be returned. The ocean offered no support, and the sky just mocked him.
He tugged at his platinum hair and turned his head toward the sky. "Why? Why, Ansem? WHY?!?" He shouted. He released his hair and took a deep breath.
Something appeared in his hand. A paopu fruit. Riku smirked at it. He knew the legend behind it, he just didn't believe in it.
But there was something else besides the paopu fruit in his hand. Another hand. A girl's hand. It retracted away slowly. He felt a hand on his shoulder. His red-headed angel was next to him, smiling at him, not looking at him with disgust. All of those emotions disappeared, and only love replaced them.
"Kairi, I'm sorry. I never... I didn't... I'll never let them hurt you again." He choked. Tears were streaming down both of their faces.
She launched herself at him and hugged him. "I know, Riku. I know you'll never let them get you again. I know you didn't mean to. I never thought you were a monster either."
She was so close. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. His heart beating so close to hers. "I... Love you." He whispered through his tears.
She brushed his tears aside, and kept her hand on his cheek. "I know. I love you too."
She leaned toward him, and kissed him. Riku didn't believe it was happening, but it was. She truly loved him back. Even after everything. She loved him.
And that's all that mattered.