A cooling breeze, salty from the ocean to the west, swept dirt about his ankles. A natural ninety was transformed to eighty by the wind and surf's influence; not cool enough to bring a chill, and not warm enough to be uncomfortable. A mountain rose at his back, nearly touching the sky. Before him and all about him on three sides stretched the mysterious sea, ever as fascinating, but more therapeutic at this late hour.
Why am I here? the boy wondered. I'm insubstantial, irrelevant to a greater ideal. What... what separates us at birth from being islanders and being something more? How do I know what destiny truly has in store for me? Can fate be altered?
An old fifteen. Contemplative and serious to a fault, but cunning and playful enough to hide it well from those who knew him. Possessed of a sharp, analytical mind, but still somehow youthfully and contrarily optimistic. He kept firm hold of his dreams, a peculiarity amongst those of his character.
Evening was swiftly turning to night, a sliver of silver moon shining above the mountain's peak. It highlighted the boy's shock of white hair and detailed every strand as it was blown by the wind into his vision. He watched them a while, pale and wispy and the color of the moon, and thought that if he could not reach the silver crescent in the sky, he at least shared some aspect of it.
"Aren't you tired?"
The boy tensed. He had not heard her coming. Doubt, about many things, began to settle in his mind.
"Not yet," he replied, vivid blue eyes capturing the girl as she made a seat beside him. She began to swing her legs lazily, a habit from childhood, as she focused on the landscape drawn out palely before her by the moon's rays. The ocean was beautiful, especially at night when the tides reflected silver as they breached the shore. She could understand what drew him to this place.
"...Where were you, Kairi?"
She ignored the way his eyes searched her. Kairi was not as oblivious as her male counterparts would like to believe.
"I've been with Sora... You were invited along, remember?"
He huffed, but not scornfully. "He didn't act like he wanted me there, so I left."
"Of course he wanted you there," she reprimanded, glancing at him in concern. "He's your friend. We want you to be with us." Then, smiling, she added, "It's not the same without you, Riku. Who else is going to stir up trouble?"
He wasn't amused, however.
"What did you two do?"
"Well..." she trailed, turning from him.
Riku looked up sharply, warily.
"We were on the beach playing blitzball with Wakka." Kairi met his eyes with a grin and laughed. "Why? What did you think we were doing?"
"Oh." Riku shook his head. "Nevermind."
She leaned toward him, slow enough to gain his full attention. Casually, if not a bit playfully, her hand brushed across Riku's forehead, tucking away a bang that dangled precariously near his eye. Riku's breath caught for the instant that she lingered so closely until, abruptly, she withdrew and stood.
"Kairi..."
"I'll see you in the morning, Riku," she smiled.
"See you..."
He watched Kairi's retreating silhouette until it blended into the shadows of the mountain face. More than ever he wanted to follow her into that dark. Old thoughts resurfaced, to him all befitting of the shadows and best left forgotten.
A quiet struggle within himself, then Riku wretched his sight away, back to the moon. It was much too late, he realized, and too long since he had slept. So, with one last glance to the tranquil sea, he allowed Kairi a few minutes head start and then he too began the short trek home.