Cauthon: Greetings and salutations! I bid you welcome to my first fanfic under this username, and hope you like the story. I own nothing except the laptop used to type this up on.
Warnings: Pending, likely yaoi and possible self-harm later on.
"Sora, Riku!"
The call rang out along the beach, the titular pair turning to look in the direction of its origin. At the dock stood a red headed girl, waving at them enthusiastically. Her hands dropped to her sides, and she came running over. "You'll never believe what I just found out," Kairi said, once she drew within speaking distance of her friends.
"What?" Sora asked her. "Is it news from the king?" The second question had held a tone of excitement. The brunette teen had been anticipating a letter from Mickey ever since the mouse had left for his own world. Kairi shook her head, lips curving slightly into a frown.
"No, nothing from the king. But," her voice was regaining its enthusiasm. "I overheard my parents talking. Apparently, my dad is planning a big celebration for you guys."
"For me?" The white-haired male was taken by surprise. "Why?"
Kairi gave a laugh. "To welcome you both home, silly. People missed you while you were gone, you know!" Her hands settled on her hips as she spoke, her anger only present in a frown. Cerulean eyes still glimmered with happiness. "I'm glad you're back."
Sora and Riku smiled up at the girl. "We know," Sora said. "You've only said it a billion times."
"And I'll say it a billion more!"
Conversation continued, but Riku's heart wasn't in it. It was good to be home, true, but…being back amidst the Light wasn't proving easy. For far too long, he'd traveled in the Dark, and the world just seemed…unnatural in its brightness. In the few days since returning to the islands, Riku had caught himself more than once wishing to fade back into darkness. It wasn't good, he knew. Sora had worked hard to bring him back, and he wasn't intent on betraying the other teen anytime soon.
However, even now, Riku knew the darkness in his heart wasn't going to let him alone without a fight. At night, he could feel it, tugging at him. It made sleeping difficult, and the white haired male was glad for his lengthened bangs. Riku figured the fight in his heart was his alone, whether he won or lost.
"And, he wouldn't let her turn it in!" Laughter followed, the tail end of some funny story from Kairi about the various people at school. Riku realized he'd been lost in thought a while, the sun had completely set, and Kairi and Sora had been talking on without him. Though, they still shot him occasional glances, their faces tinged with a mixture of concern over his continued silence and hope that he'd join in the conversation. Riku forced up a laugh.
"Yeah, heh, wouldn't let her…." His voice drifted off into silence, eyes trailing to the darkened sand. In the darkness, if he closed his eyes, he could make believe he was there, on that other beach. The waves sounded just the same as that place, and the sand rolled between his fingers the same way. If he just focused on the waves and the sand…
"Riku, you coming?"
His eyes opened again, and he looked up at Sora, confused. "What?"
"Kairi and I are ready to head back. It's getting late, and there's school tomorrow," he replied, "Don't want to miss it, right?"
"Right," Riku answered the brunette, giving a nod. He would rather stay and listen to the waves, but he had to get back to a normal life.
What if I don't want to be normal anymore?
Riku was at the castle of those Nobodies, with Sora and Kairi. From the darkness, Saix appeared. Riku had seen him coming, trying to warn the other two. Every time he opened his mouth, though, nothing came out. He tried to run to them, but moved as though he were in a vat of jelly. The Nobody raised his weapon, striking at Kairi first. The blade tore through her chest, the girl falling with a cry. Red pooled around her, staining the pink of her clothing. A few beads dripped from the freshly colored claymore, and Saix turned to Sora next. The enraged brunette lunged towards the Nobody, keyblade held high and ready to land. It made no contact, however, and the larger blade again tasted flesh as it ripped into a second victim. As Sora fell, the scream Riku had been attempting to release burst forth, as Saix moved in to claim a third.
He'd jerked awake with a start, sweat making his sheets stick to him. The room felt so hot, Riku kicked the covers away, sitting up with wide eyes. Never had he had a dream like that. It felt so vivid, so real. He couldn't recall it all, but what he could was more than enough. Resting his face in his hands, he tried to rub the terror away.
It never happened, he told himself, trying to calm down. Sora and Kairi are alive and well, at home sleeping in their beds.
Standing, Riku crept out into the hallway, pausing a moment to listen for the even breathing from down the hall. His parents were asleep, and wouldn't notice if he left. Returning to his room, he slipped on a long sleeved jacket, seaside nights could get chilly, and was back in the hall a moment later. He held his shoes in his hand as he slipped down the stairs and out into the quiet night, putting them on only when he was safely outside. He walked briskly along the dirt road, not afraid of being caught. The town was supposedly asleep, and no one suspected anyone else of ever wandering around at night. So, there was no one to impede him as he made his way down to the beach, where he sat down by the water.
Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, releasing it slowly. He could feel the darkness of the world, as the darkness in himself stirred happily. It was glad to be out here, in the cold air, even though Riku himself was nearing the point of complete exhaustion. Not a nights' peace had he gotten since returning, and it was wearing him down. Consciously, he wanted to return to the light, but his heart wasn't letting him. Eyes growing tight, he clenched his teeth, anger growing. He didn't know what could possibly be wrong with him that the darkness in him refused to leave him. The king had said Ansem's machine had quelled it, but there it was, churning inside him.
He felt cold then, rising from his feet. Eyes shooting open, he realized he was standing in the surf, moving slowly out to the deeper water. He wasn't sure what he was doing or why, as solid ground vanished and he began swimming. A dark shape stood out in the clear sky, and Riku could make out the rocky peaks of the island he and his friends would hang out at. His limbs were exhausted when he finally got to the island, and Riku rested on the shore a while to regain his strength.
It hadn't just been the swimming, the chill of the water sapped his energy as well. He could feel the tiredness seeking to claim him, trying to draw him to sleep again. He fought it as long as he could, rolling over onto his back to stare at the stars. Sand stuck to him, gathered in clumps in his hair and on his clothes, but he paid it no mind. Closing his eyes, still half in the water, he felt as though he were back there, on the Dark Island.
"At least the waves sound the same…" he mumbled to no one, mind falling into the shadows of sleep as early morning rose to awaken the world.