A/N: 4 years later... lol I swear I've not been doing nothing.
Hehe… yeah I had to remake this. Why? Because I'm working on the sequel on the side and I want it to kind of, well frankly, match. Lol Okay I lie, that's not really the reason. But that's not a story that'll be told anytime soon /becauseijustcantdealwithmyownshitsometimes
= v = I've fixed quite a few things that were necessary and said forget it to a bunch of others. X'D Can only patch so many plot holes without ripping my hair out. And this is a side project soooo, it's more out of fun-fun anyway. Lol Hopefully it won't read like it was rushed but more fast-paced.
All of the chapters have been deleted upon this upload and will soon be updated with the new additions. The only place to find the original is on deviantART in my scraps. ;n; I have most of them done honestly. And will hopefully be put out either once a week or once every two weeks depending on this and that.
But onto the point for those that read the original:
The timeline has been changed. This is now after the timeframe of KH3 (instead of the originally intended KH2). Several key features were warped – Riku lives meagerly since he's leaving soon. Less reflecting on the BS that I reflected on and so on. I just wish I could have made it longer /but what the hey whatever/
/just for those that have read and come back because they're following and are going "WTF woman what did you do?! We liked that crappy piece of mac and cheese!"/ I love you all and I'm sorry XD but I had to make it cheesier.
z.z.z.z.z
The desire to travel to other worlds and expand his horizons drove one young man to hurting the people he held closest to his heart. What was his punishment? For his body to be possessed as he was to watch himself almost kill Sora. He was able to gather enough control to save Kairi, however, and afterward the being sent his heart away. Banished to the Realm of Darkness, he wandered and several times he thought of giving up.
It was then that he came across a small Keyblade wielder – King Mickey. The two traveled together for quite a while until they arrived at a large alabaster door amidst the darkness. It was then that it opened to reveal the same man that had possessed him now defeated and Sora, along with his companions. He assisted in shutting the door, needing someone on both sides to do so, and continued journeying with King Mickey.
Alas they were separated and he fell into slumber, only waking to arrive in a place called Castle Oblivion. He was then led by a man that called himself DiZ, who was actually the intelligent ruler of another world named Ansem, to overcome his personal darkness. The young man did things he never thought of doing. He fought; battled relentlessly, cutting down enemy after enemy, beating a replica of his self. It was all in vain as he arrived too late to save Sora once again – the boy already placed in a sleeping chamber due to his scrambled memories leaving him empty.
For what seemed like forever he set out to make sure Sora could wake up. But even after the boy's memories were restored he still couldn't be with his friends again. Once more he was tainted by the darkness to the point where his appearance resembled the very man that had possessed him in the beginning. Never did it kill him to stay in the shadows, supporting his dear friend's journey as much as he could. However, it did break his heart when Sora came to realize it was him all along and not that Heartless man. To see the boy drop to his knees and sob… well he just couldn't deal with it. It was his fault anyway.
His fault they were targeted beyond what should have happened. He believed it to be his fault that he couldn't avoid the battles where he struck down foe after foe; a couple of which turned out to be comrades. It was those thoughts that drove him mad later on.
He knew from then on he never wanted to hurt Sora – even unintentionally.
So they fought together against the remaining Nobodies and then through the sleeping worlds and Xehanort's plans. He even dived into the boy's heart and saved him, returning him to how he should be. Afterward he was crowned with completing the Mark of Mastery and became an official Keyblade Master. For the next few months they trained before beginning the plan, setting out to discover the rest of their team and defeat Xehanort once and for all. Which is exactly what they did and he was allowed to finally return to Destiny Islands to finish up his normal life, knowing he'd report back to the rejuvenated Land of Departure after his twenty-first birthday.
It's for that reason that he finds himself more than nervous. It's his last opportunity, or so he believes it to be, to tell Sora the one thing he's been dying to for years now. He's planned to ignore the negative thoughts trying to hold him back. The ones that tell him that he's not good enough; Sora has too much light to be with someone who has as much darkness as himself – that he deserves Kairi. But he still can't deny that he loves Sora and wants to be with him. That he wants things to be like they were before Kairi came during that meteor shower, before he had thoughts of other worlds to that extent. He wants things to be simple and good, shoving the bad to the side and forgetting what's happened up till now so that they can move forward – to not let the past hold them back.
He just doesn't realize the price of forgetting is steep.
z.z.z.z.z
He strides home to his one bedroom apartment, aquamarine eyes downcast just like the weather. Short silver hair hangs below his ears, short bangs reaching towards his eyes. Having been rushed out of his residence rather abruptly he only wears a black zip-up vest with a high collar, a pair of baggy blue pants, and white, yellow and black shoes. He had been sent out – ordered out – by Sora to get ice-cream. Not bothering to argue with the boy, having already suspected the outcome of the day, he had left to retrieve the dessert.
Rounding the corner, he comes up on the rather small apartment building. The gray colors appear darker thanks to the shrouded moon and the only light comes from the inside of the housing structure. Thankfully he's on the first floor and it doesn't take him long to locate his room. Not that that dark bothers him, not anymore anyways. He's actually quite comfortable with it. Sometimes he finds it more relaxing than sitting under blaring lights that point out everything it touches.
His room is at the beginning of the hallway to the left of the entrance, something he finds rather annoying since he has to listen to all the traffic that trudges through. The paper bags filled with ice-cream containers sit on the floor as he fishes his keys from his pockets. He does so rather quickly and picks the bags back up, walking into his dark apartment.
An eyebrow rises just as he's about to call for Sora, wondering where he went, when light flares to life all around him – temporarily blinding him. He squeezes his eyes shut tight as people scream out his name and the words 'happy birthday'. It doesn't do him any good.
The suddenness. The shouting. It brings back memories – the pure, raw bad ones that make him cringe. Despite being a Keyblade Master and willing to serve both light and dark; he's haunted no less.
If it weren't for the bags of ice-cream he would have thrown his hands up to grasp at his head and drop to his knees. But he's grateful that he doesn't – he doesn't want to dare be seen weak by all of these people, a small party of friends. He's broken away and thrust back into the surprise party as Sora appears in front of him, grabbing at the bags of ice-cream.
His blue eyes shine with happiness as he smiles at the stunned birthday boy. Brown hair spikes every which way off of the boy's head, a messy feel to the tamed fringe. He wears a black tank top and instead of his usual pants he wears tan capris and a pair of flip-flops of the same color. "Happy Birthday, Riku!" Sora gestures to the living room, where a couch and table sit, with his head. "Come on, you have to blow out your candle!"
Riku follows him to the living room, saying thank you to those that wish him a happy birthday all over again. He doesn't take much notice to any of them – except for being color coded blurs that mingle around him. Sitting on the couch he doesn't see Kairi leave the kitchen area until she's beside the table, taking a place next to him. She wears a light pink dress that ends at her knees, white swirls decorating the bottom. Maroon hair falls to her shoulders and into her deep blue eyes, a flower pin collecting some of the bangs to the side. She places the cake on the table in front of him.
It's a relatively simple looking cake. Strawberries decorate the rim of it with white icing layered on nice and thick. In the middle is a single white and black candle that reads the number twenty-one.
Sora sets the bags on the floor and pulls out a couple containers before plopping down on the other side of Riku. He smiles at Riku, "Make a wish Riku!"
From the other side of him Kairi scolds the brunet. "Sora, we haven't even sung yet."
"But we just did… basically." Sora chuckles as he nudges the older boy with his elbow. "Come on Riku, make it a good wish."
Riku forces a smile, not able to find it in himself to give a real one. Taking a breath, he blows and extinguishes the flame with ease. Claps and cheers come from the surrounding blurs, but it only makes his ears ring and his head throb. He could have done with a quiet party of just Sora, Kairi and him.
Picking the cake back up, Kairi heads back to the kitchen. "Alright everyone, let's eat. Come get a plate."
Sora follows her with the ice-cream, apparently not knowing she was going to go back to the kitchen afterward. He returns to Riku quickly, thrusting a plain ceramic plate into his hands that has cake and ice-cream on it. Alone for a moment, Riku can hear the rustle and chatter of those just several feet away. Sora grins at him as he takes a bite, "So do you like the cake?"
Riku nods as he swallows. "Did you pick it out?" Sora nods happily. "It was a good choice, thank you Sora."
"It was no problem. I'd do anything for you Riku."
He swallows again even though he hadn't taken a bite. Setting the plate down on the table, he turns to Sora after a quick glance to the kitchen. With everyone still preoccupied he knows he has only a split second to move. "Sora… thank you for everything."
Sora laughs as he rubs at the back of his head. "Aw, you don't have to do that. We're best friends remember?"
"Yeah I remember." He hesitates for a moment, doubting himself. "You know Sora; I love you – a lot." The way the brunet looks at him makes Riku shake his head. "Not like that. I love you, more than a best friend ever could."
For a moment there's nothing but silence between them. But slowly Sora parts his lips, "Riku… I… I don't-"
Suddenly a swarm of people are around them and Kairi is sitting back down. Someone yells out to open presents. A snicker follows and a decorated box is forced into Riku's grasp. As he begins to unwrap each present Kairi returns to the kitchen to get a drink and Sora swiftly follows. The brunet avoids Riku's eyes as he goes, leaving the young man to smile and thank each guest for the presents.
Once he's done he discovers that Sora is nowhere to be seen from his position. Kairi walks up beside him and he sighs, "Any more presents?"
She pats his head as if he were a child, the touch comforting but odd to him. "Nope that was the last one."
As she walks away to mingle with the others and gather unused plates and glasses, Riku stands from his seat. Out of all those presents he didn't see one from Sora. Although he assumes the brunet bought the cake and that alone is fine with him. Still, if he could find the boy he'd be more than happy. Riku moves through the wave of people and to the kitchen to pour himself a glass of water. After drinking it and leaving the glass on the counter he turns to leave only to stop dead.
"I overheard Kairi and Sora talking. Sora said something about Riku saying he loves him."
"What did Sora say?"
"Nothing from what I know. He probably didn't want to hurt his feelings. It's obvious Sora loves Kairi, ya know?"
"I guess…"
Riku stands there, struggling to breathe as his heart jumps into his throat. His chest feels like it's caving in and he has to take a few short gasps of air before he can move. When he does move, he moves fast. Heading straight for the door he can vaguely see Kairi coming towards him as he has to stop to open it. Her concern is obvious and the fact that she knows why he's like this is even more so. "Riku, where are you going?"
"I need some air."
Her slender fingers grab at his wrist, "What's wrong? You can talk to me Riku."
Pulling his arm away, he swings the door open and steps outside of it. "You already know I'm sure."
She can't seem to deny that as she walks out after him, the heels of her shoes clicking against the ground. "Riku, wait – I'm sorry. I'm sorry if they said anything, they didn't mean it."
He glances back at her to see tears in the corners of her eyes. "Forget it, I'll be back."
"Riku, please don't go! You don't understand, please let me explain!"
But he's already disappeared around the corner and into the night. He wanders around for quite a while, reflecting on what to do. He knows gossip is gossip – that there's nothing wrong with someone's opinion on a situation. Nonetheless he can't get rid of the hurt that flares up in his chest and makes him want to just forget everything and start fresh.
The lights on the side of the road are left in the distance as he takes a turn only to realize he's walked into a dead end. He can't help but scoff at himself, "I didn't even know we had dead ends."
"And you'd be wise to not have discovered them young man."
Riku spins around with a heated glare settled into his eyes. If it's one thing, he can fight. Wary of the man's voice that had startled him, he sweeps his gaze over the alley. All he sees is a stray cat running out from behind a dumpster with a mouse in its mouth.
"If you're not careful, you may end up like that rat."
This time he doesn't turn even though he can feel the presence behind him. If playing in the shadows was what the man wanted Riku can give him that and still win. He shrugs his shoulders, "If it meant starting over I welcome destiny to spin that wheel again."
A whisper passes by his ear, sending a shiver down his spine, "Do you mean that?"
"Every word."
Just as his reply leaves his lips and he plans to turn around, Riku is taken by surprise. He's forced back against the mystery man as a cold hand clamps over his mouth. "I can make that dream a reality. I know how it feels to lose everything in a single night… to want to fall into a coma and never wake up from the peaceful illusions you can create and kill at will."
Riku takes a deep breath through his nose as he feels the man wrap an arm over his arms and waist, keeping them together. He can do nothing as he finds the man far stronger than he expected. His eyes widen as lips press against the side of his throat, throwing him completely off guard. But it's when teeth meet his skin that he lets his mind go wild with outcomes. He tries to throw his fist back at the attacker but his body won't obey him. The only part that will are his vocal chords and his lungs as his scream is muffled by the hand over his mouth.
Whatever had pierced through his throat goes deep as he can feel the blood leaving his body, yet it doesn't dare to drip down his neck. Riku can only look up at the moon, not realizing his vision is spotting with black until it starts to block out the moon as well. The attacker finally lets him go, the grip loosening enough to where Riku can shove himself away. But the second he does he wishes he hadn't.
A wave of dizziness hits and he stumbles toward the other wall of the alley, never making it as he falls to the side. The man cloaked in shadows kneels down, effortlessly catching the boy. Riku stares up into crimson eyes, breathing heavily as he feels his body beginning to grow cold – very cold.
