AN: For clarification sake, Kairi is called Sora in this story. Why? Because her amnesia was a little more complete here than in canon and she forgot her own name, so they named her Sora. Is this confusing? Yes. Will I change it? No. I love Sora, and while he isn't physically present in this fic, I do want to honor him in spirit. Thus, Kairi is called Sora. Also, this is a Kingdom Hearts fic. It's supposed to be confusing. It wouldn't be true to canon if it wasn't :p Now, without further ado, onto the story!
I've been having these weird thoughts lately...
Like, is any of this for real...
Or not?
...
Sora opens her eyes to a blue sky and white clouds. For some reason that seems... wrong. Shouldn't the sky be... something else?
She closes her eyes as she tries to remember what the sky should be instead. It's hard, her mind still fuzzy from...
(a memory)
Sora opens her eyes again. And yelps with surprise at the unexpected sight that meets her, so startled she shoots half upright from her previously flat position on the sand.
Her reaction makes Riku chuckle. When she tilts her head back to look at him again, she sees an amused smirk aimed down at her.
"And good afternoon to you too. So this is where you've been hiding," he says. It makes her frown with confusion. Her mind is clear now and strange images are dancing through it.
"...Riku?" she wonders, confused by how he's here. The last thing she remembers – Sora sucks in a sharp breath and jumps to her feet, spinning around as she frantically searches for the... the thing.
"Sora, what's wro–"
"Where is it? I– Riku, we've got to run!" Whirling around to face him, she grabs his hand and starts running towards the docks because they need to leave right now.
She almost falls flat on her face when Riku refuses to move with her. Sora manages to catch her balance in time and gives him a bewildered look, fear and panic clawing at her mind.
Why isn't he running?
"Did you hit your head or something?" For some utterly incomprehensible reason Riku is amused, like there isn't a huge black thing that wants to...
(consume the light)
It wants something.
Sora isn't staying to find out what.
"We've got to run!" she repeats and tries to pull Riku along again.
He still doesn't budge, just keeps giving her a highly amused look. Sora lets out a frustrated noise and glares.
"Riku, move," she commands her idiot best friend. He laughs in return but he also finally takes a step forward.
Except it turns out he takes that step so he can knock her on the head. Not hard enough to hurt but definitely hard enough to be felt.
"Earth to Sora, this is the real world. You were just dreaming."
"It wasn't a dream!" There's no way she could've ever imagined that thing. "There's this huge black thing and– ouch" Sora rubs her head where Riku knocked her a little harder than last time and gives him another glare, unable to understand what's wrong with him.
He needs to start running.
"You were dreaming, you crazy girl. There's nothing here," he declares so firmly it makes uncertainty rise. Except it couldn't have been a dream, it felt too real for that.
...Except things like that
(are real)
don't exist in real life. Of course they don't.
"Are you sure you didn't see anything?" she has to check again. The fear still clawing at her mind doesn't allow for anything else.
Riku rolls his eyes with fond exasperation and lays his arm across her shoulders, pulling her close.
"I'm very sure," he assures and Sora relaxes, her fear gone as though it was never there in the first place. Riku wouldn't lie to her and that thing would be impossible to miss. So it follows that Riku is right and it was just
(a memory)
a dream. Nothing more.
No matter how real it felt.
"Besides," Riku continues with his usual confidence. "Even if the, what did you call it? The huge black thing? Even if it was real, I'd protect you."
Sora smiles and leans into his embrace.
"Thanks, Riku." Her best friend is always there for her. It's reassuring in a way nothing else is.
"You're welcome," he says with the smile he only ever gives to her. Then it transforms into a playful grin. "Now let's go. That raft won't build itself."
Sora laughs. Typical Riku.
"Alright. Race you?" she asks, already knowing what his answer will be.
Riku scoffs and gives her what he thinks is a cool smirk, but in reality it just makes him look smug.
"You're going down," he states like it's already a fact. Sora replies with an innocent look. Because Riku knows her, it immediately makes him narrow his eyes with suspicion.
She spins out of his embrace and sweeps out his legs.
Riku flails his arms as he tries to catch his balance, and he almost manages to save himself by grasping her arm, but she moves out of the way just in time. Sora watches with satisfaction as he falls down the sand.
"Looks like you're the one who went down," she kindly informs him. The dirty look she gets makes her grin.
Riku opens his mouth to call her a cheater like usual, so Sora spins on her heel and starts running to the raft. It would be silly of her to waste her head start by listening to him talk, now wouldn't it? Especially when she already knows what he's going to say.
"Cheater!"
Riku's yell makes her grin grow, and she puts in an extra burst of speed as she hears him start to chase her. He'll catch up to her before she can make it to the raft of course, he's faster than her. Which is why she has to play dirty. She wouldn't stand a chance otherwise.
Her dream is already fading away, the images becoming more blurry and indistinct with every step she takes. Sora isn't complaining, she doesn't want to
(remember)
keep thinking about that thing. Besides, it was just a dream. It isn't important.
This moment right now is.
Later that day, Sora gets comfortable on the curved base of the paopu tree. She aches all over from the physical work needed to build a raft.
The raft is more than worth it.
"Almost finished," Riku says with satisfaction from where he's leaning against the trunk. Sora looks down at him with a grin.
"Just another week or so and we'll be done," she agrees, excited just thinking about it. They've been at this since the beginning of summer vacation. Being so near to having the raft finished is thrilling.
She can't wait to set sail.
"What do you think is out there?" Riku wonders with his eyes still on the horizon. Sora shrugs and returns her gaze towards the sunset as well. It's a beautiful sight, no matter how often she sees it.
"Don't know. But that's why we're going, to find out." They only need a little more time.
Riku chuckles.
"True enough. Do you think we'll find your world?"
Sora feels a wistful smile grow.
"I don't know. But I'd like it if we did. I would really like that." To find out where she came from? To know who she was before she woke up here? To answer the questions that sometimes still haunt her?
There are few things Sora would like more.
"Then that's our first goal. We'll set out and find your world."
Riku's determined statement makes warmth rise. He's the best friend ever.
"Thanks, Riku."
Her words earn her a soft smile.
"No, thank you, Sora. Without you, I probably would've never thought of this plan."
Sora chuckles. She doesn't believe that, Riku wants to set sail even more than she does. He would've come up with something like this without her as well. The sentiment is nice, though.
"You're welcome," she says as she looks back towards the sunset. From the corner of her vision she sees Riku return his gaze to the horizon as well.
Sora doesn't know what they'll find once they set sail.
As long as she has Riku by her side, it can't be anything but great.
The next morning, Sora lets out a yawn as she sits down for breakfast.
"Late night?" Father asks with an absent smile as he continues gathering the last of his papers. As usual, he's already finished his own breakfast and is about to leave for work.
"Not that late, but I kept waking up throughout the night. My dreams were strange." She sometimes has nights like that. Nights where she keeps waking up with only the vaguest impressions left. Never anything concrete, nothing but a feeling that whatever she dreamed of was unlike anything in this world. A feeling that tells her that what she dreamed was important.
Sometimes she wonders if those dreams are fragments of her forgotten past.
Father lets out a hum as he puts away the last of his papers and closes his briefcase. He understands what she means when she says her dreams were strange.
"What are your plans for today?" he asks. Sora feels like it's kind of a redundant question but she answers anyway.
"I'm going to the island with Riku."
Her reply makes Father shake his head with a rueful smile.
"Of course you are. Why do I even ask?" he teases. Sora gives an innocent look in return.
"That's not all I do." A lie, it is all she does. Since summer began at least.
"Of course not," Father plays along. Sora grins. "But ever since summer started, it does seem like it's all you do," he continues with the mock innocence she learned from him.
"Better than sitting home alone," she quips back.
Father winces. That definitely wasn't the reaction she was going for.
"Sora, I'm sorry," he says. Why would he – oh.
"No, I didn't mean– you're the mayor, of course you're busy," she quickly backtracks as she realizes what he thought she meant. He has the whole town to look after, of course he's busy.
Father still looks guilty and it makes her frown. He shouldn't be feeling guilty, he hasn't done anything wrong.
"I know I haven't been making enough time for you," he says. Sora is confused.
"But you have. You're always home in time for dinner and you make sure to keep Sunday afternoon free so you can spend it with me. You're a good father."
He really is. Sora wouldn't ever wish for a different one. Even if she does wish she could remember who her other parents were as well.
Her answer makes Father smile. He comes over and embraces her. Sora hugs him back.
"You're a wonder, Sora." He kisses the top her head. Sora lifts her head with a smile, warmed by the sentiment. Though she's still a little confused how he can think he isn't spending enough time with her. She sees him every day.
"Unfortunately, I really do have to go now," Father continues, tightening his embrace briefly before letting go and grabbing his briefcase. "Have fun with Riku, dear."
"I will," she replies. "Have fun at work, Father."
Her words make Father let out an involuntary snort.
"I'll try, but I doubt I'll succeed. Damn committees." That last is muttered to himself instead of her. Sora grins. Poor Father. While he does love his job most of the time, there are moments where he really doesn't. Being the mayor isn't easy.
Father shakes his head to get rid of those unpleasant thoughts and gives her another smile. "See you tonight."
"I'll make macaroni and cheese," she decides in a burst of inspiration, hoping to make him feel better. It works, Father's smile turns into a grin.
"My favorite," he says like it's not the only thing she knows how to make. "I look forward to it already. But now I really do have to go."
"Then go. I'll see you tonight."
Father ruffles her hair as he passes her.
"Bye, Sora. I love you."
"Bye, Father. I love you too."
As Father leaves, Sora returns to eating her breakfast. Honestly, Father can be insecure about the most ridiculous of things. He's here for her every day. How could he think he isn't spending enough time with her?
She's going to miss him while she's gone. But while Sora feels regret over the pain she knows her absence will cause, she isn't going to change her mind. Or tell him about her and Riku's plan to set sail. She'd never be allowed to leave if she did. And Sora wants to go out there and see other worlds. So she will.
When she returns, she'll have so much to tell Father. It'll be great.
She'll also be grounded for life, but that's just something she'll have to deal with. If she wants to travel, she has to accept the consequences it brings as well.
Sora finishes her breakfast and starts getting ready to leave for the island. She's sure Riku is already there and working on the raft.
She's right, Riku is already working when she gets there.
"Good morning," she calls out as she nears, making Riku look up from where he's securing the mast.
"Good morning, sleepyhead. Finally decided to grace me with your presence?" he teases with his usual smirk.
"It's not even nine o'clock, I wouldn't call that finally," she points out with a smile.
"And I've been here since six-thirty," he brags. Sora chuckles.
"Not all of us can function with a few hours of sleep."
"True," he agrees while lounging with an exaggerated arrogance that's only half faked. "It's hard being as amazing as me."
Sora laughs. Riku can be so full of himself. It's hilarious.
"Poor you," she teases.
"It's a curse. Now get over here and help me tighten this rope," he orders, getting things back on track like always.
"Sir, yes sir," she returns with a crisp salute.
"Move it, soldier."
With a chuckle, Sora moves.
They have lunch at their usual spot by the island's paopu tree. Both of them eat in silence, too hungry after all their hard work to waste time with talking.
Riku finishes first and starts explaining what he did during the hours when sane people are asleep. Mostly bringing more supplies for their journey to the storage cave.
After she finishes her own lunch, Sora installs herself a little more comfortably on the base of the paopu tree, enjoying the warmth of the sun as she listens to Riku talk.
She sees Wakka, Tidus and Selphie appear on the diver cliff. Sora gives them a wave and gets an energetic one from Wakka in return, before he jumps off the cliff with a loud whoop, clearly heard even at this distance. His landing creates an impressive splash. That's worth eight points at least. Maybe even an eight and a half.
"–more rations, I've already put them with the rest," Riku says. Sora hums to let him know she's still listening and watches as Tidus jump off the cliff as well. His splash is a lot smaller than Wakka's. She gives it a six and a half.
"I'm pretty sure we've got enough sweeteners but I'd feel better if we had some more. Can't run out of water in the middle of the ocean, that would just be the height of irony."
Sora hums again as she watches Wakka and Tidus start an epic water battle. Their battle is interrupted by Selphie jumping off the cliff and joining them. Despite the fact that Selphie is the smallest of the three, she easily creates the largest splash. That's a solid nine, no doubt about it.
"I've joined a traveling circus as their newest acrobat."
Sora grins.
"I think you're much better suited as a clown," she quips as she turns to look at Riku.
"So you are paying attention," he returns with a playful smirk. "And no, I reserved the clown spot for you."
"Or course I'm paying attention." She always pays attention to him when he's present. He really should've figured that out by now. "And thank you for not forgetting about me while you run off to join the circus."
"Of course. You know how long it would take to break in a new cheerleader?"
His words make her snort. They both know that she's the type to charge the field instead of cheering from the sidelines. Not that she minds cheering, but why stay behind when she can be in the thick of things instead?
"If you want a cheerleader, why not ask one of your fanclub?" she returns innocently. As expected, it makes Riku scowl. Sora grins. It's hilarious how prickly he gets at the mention of the girls that swoon over him whenever they have PE.
"Those girls are idiots. They aren't my fans, they're fans of the idea of me. They don't know me."
"That's because you're an antisocial ass," she kindly explains. Riku rolls his eyes.
"Excuse me for having standards."
"There's a difference between having standards and scowling at everyone that comes near you. If you don't give them a chance to know you, you're not allowed to complain about them not knowing you either," she points out with a grin. Most of the time Riku counters everything she throws at him, but there are a few topics where he doesn't. This is one of them.
Naturally, she brings it up often.
"Whatever," he attempts to say with indifference, but he only manages to hit sullen. Sora chuckles.
"Also, they're not idiots," she says, because they really aren't. "Vanille is always fun to be around, and Penelo is one of the sweetest people there is. And while Ashe seems a little cold, she's actually very kind. If you took the time to get to know them, you'd realize that too."
"I don't want to get to know them," Riku retorts with a mix of irritation and exasperation. "I've got you."
Sora feels her grin turn into a smile, warmed by the sentiment.
"True, you do. But that doesn't mean you can't have other friends as well," she says just to push his buttons some more.
"I do have other friends," Riku lies. Friendly acquaintances are different from actual friends. Sora points this out to him with an indulgent look. He rolls his eyes in return.
"You have no room to talk, you're just as bad as me." The accusation slides right off her. Unlike him, she does have other friends. None as close as him by a long shot, but friends nonetheless. As evidenced by the fact that all of them are annoyed with her for spending all her time with Riku this summer.
Her lack of reaction makes Riku give her an annoyed look. Sora gives a peaceful smile back.
"Want to spar?" he asks, changing the subject. He's so done with this entire conversation. Sora chuckles and gives the proposal some thought. On one hand, she's perfectly content with lazing in the sun. On the other, sparring is always fun.
She decides why not.
"You're on," she agrees. Riku lights up. He loves every kind of physical competition, but sparring holds a special place in his heart. It has ever since they started following classes all those years ago. Sora likes it a lot as well, but she doesn't have his sheer passion for it.
She looks around for a suitable weapon. Spotting one, she gets off her perch and walks over, giving it a few test swings. It's a fine branch, one that won't break when struck, yet it isn't too bendy either.
When she turns around, she sees that Riku has found himself a suitable weapon as well. He's radiating eagerness and arrogance in equal measure. It makes her grin.
"Ready?" she calls out. Riku smirks.
"Prepare to lose," he brags. Given that she wins against him once every blue moon, it isn't unfounded. It's also hilarious to see him this cocky.
"Don't think I'll make it easy," she warns with a smile. While the odds of her winning have plummeted to near zero ever since he hit his last growth spurt, that doesn't mean she's won't give it her all.
"I think that's my line," he says as he saunters forward. Sora doesn't reply, just brings up her weapon in a defensive position, ready for whatever comes.
The instant he's near enough, Riku attacks. Sora blocks his branch with her own, spins out of the way of his follow up strike and uses the opening to launch an attack of her own. Riku dodges it with his usual agility and performs a counter strike so smoothly she almost doesn't manage to block it. Almost.
Unfortunately, the block puts her a little off balance, and Riku wastes no time in exploiting the opening.
His branch smacks against her side. Sora winces. That hurt.
The mocking chuckle Riku lets out makes her narrow her eyes. She won't let that go unanswered.
Sora lunges forward while swinging her branch. When Riku moves to parry, she drops low and kicks out a leg to sweep him off his feet.
Riku dodges by performing a back flip like the circus acrobat he claimed to be. The moment his feet hit the ground again, he's shooting back towards her with a swinging branch. She gets out of the way just in time and brings up her weapon to block his follow up strike.
His follow up strike turns out to be a feint. Riku circumvents her guard by spinning on his heel, and he smacks his branch against her back. Sora falls forward and breaks her fall with one hand, turning it into a roll. When she flows back to her feet and spins around, she sees that Riku has casually swung his branch across his shoulder and is oozing arrogance. When their eyes meet, he opens his mouth to brag.
Sora wastes no time in taking advantage of the opening he's so kindly offering. Lunging forward, she tackles him to the sand. While her move surprises him, Riku recovers quickly and uses his legs to kick her off. Both of them scramble back to their feet. She with a grin and he with a glare.
It's always fun to catch him off guard. It also isn't that difficult to accomplish. While he should really know better than to give her an opening like this, Riku has a habit of letting his ego get in the way of his common sense. Not enough to make him lose, but enough to have funny moments like these.
Riku starts circling her. Sora mirrors his movements as she holds her branch at the ready. Riku shoots forward while swinging his weapon
(parry and strike)
Sora gapes and Riku's own eyes are wide as they both stare with astonishment at her branch held beneath his chin, his own somehow knocked out of his hand.
She did it again! She made an awesome move without knowing how she did! How in the world does this keep happening?
...She won? She won!
Sora grins and opens her mouth to crow about her victory – the only warning she gets is the narrowing of Riku's eyes before he ducks under her branch and tackles her to the sand.
She falls down with a squeak that turns into a yelp as she hits the sand. She's managed to keep hold of her branch on instinct but quickly realizes it doesn't matter. Riku has captured her hands with his own and is using his weight to hold her captive.
Sora struggles against his hold but quickly realizes it's useless. She isn't strong enough to get him off. She's trapped.
She lost.
Huffing, she stops struggling, accepting defeat. She opens her mouth to tell Riku that, except when she pays more attention to his expression instead of just his hold on her, she sees something that makes her gape.
Is he blushing?
The light dusting of pink on his cheeks becomes a little darker. Riku clears his throat uncomfortably and shifts his weight a little.
He's blushing!
"I win. Again," he says as he gets off her, trying to appear cocky but only managing to hit awkward. Combined with his blush, it's kind of adorable.
"Yes you did," Sora agrees with a huge grin, savoring the sight of cool and confident Riku not only being awkward but actually blushing. She hasn't seen him blush in years. It compliments his icy eyes and silver hair quite nicely.
In fact...
"You're pretty!" she exclaims, confused by how she's never noticed this before. Objectively speaking she knows Riku is beautiful of course, and she's always found him nice to look at, but she's never realized that he's pretty. Really pretty, in fact.
"No I'm not," he immediately denies with a fierce scowl. Sora laughs. Combined with his blush, the sight is hilarious. And pretty.
"Yes you are. You're really pretty. How did I miss this?" she asks herself, confused by how she could have failed to see what is now incredibly obvious. Not just his blush, but the shape of his eyes, his lips, the way his hair falls. His bared arms and shoulders, even the way he is standing. All of it combines into an incredibly pretty picture.
Riku's blush grows. His scowl also deepens.
"Girls are pretty, boys are handsome," he says like it's supposed to be a real argument. Sora laughs.
"Riku, no matter what you say, it won't change the fact that you are pretty," she teases while grinning like mad. Riku lets out a frustrated sound and glares down at her.
Even his glare is pretty!
"I'm not pretty."
Sora doesn't even try to contain her grin.
"You are. Especially when you're blushing."
"I'm not blushing!" he exclaims much too fast and in a hilariously high voice. Riku knows it too, because he crosses his arms defensively and his pretty blush grows a little stronger.
"Of course you're not," she plays along.
"I'm not," he snaps. Sora manages to give an innocent look with the greatest of efforts.
"No need to be so defensive. I agreed, didn't I?"
Riku closes his eyes with a pained grimace. Sora laughs. Her laughter makes him open his eyes so he can give her another glare.
"Get up, we need to get back to work," he orders, still prickly and offended at being called pretty. Poor Riku. His ego can't handle the truth.
"I don't know. I'm kind of comfy down here," she counters with a smile. Riku rolls his eyes and nudges her with a foot. A lot harder than he usually would. He's really annoyed by this. Sora chuckles and files away 'calling Riku pretty' with the rest of her 'this will push Riku's buttons in a hilarious way' topics.
"Let's go, you lazy bum," he orders. "That raft won't finish itself."
Sora hums her agreement before giving him a look of exaggerated pleading. She lifts her hand.
"Help me up?"
Riku rolls his eyes again, but this time it's accompanied by the smile only she can inspire.
"Lazy bum," he accuses affectionately, grabbing her hand and pulling her upright.
"Lucky I have you to make sure things get done," she quips. "Now lead the way, captain."
Her words make Riku chuckle and regain his usual confident bearing.
It's a shame his blush is already gone. Sora wonders if she can make him blush again, just to see him look so pretty once more.
Or rather, to see him look prettier than usual. Now that she's realized that he's pretty, it's impossible to not be aware of it. How strange. In a good way.
It's nice to have a best friend who's so easy on the eyes.
...
Riku watches the sun lower down the horizon, the ache of his muscles filling him with quiet satisfaction. Soon he won't have to wonder what's beyond the horizon anymore. Soon he'll find out.
Soon.
"What are you doing?" he asks when he sees Sora start to climb the paopu tree from the corner of his vision. He turns his head to get a better look.
"Something," she answers unhelpfully as she continues to climb. She's climbing... surprisingly high, in fact.
Riku moves to stand underneath her so he can catch her if she falls. And he doesn't watch the way her shirt is riding up her stomach. Of course he doesn't.
Honestly, he doesn't understand what's wrong with him lately. This is Sora, his best friend since basically forever. He shouldn't be fascinated by the way the setting sun makes the red of her hair stand out, or how it makes her skin seem so inviting to touch. And he definitely shouldn't be fascinated by the way her body has changed so much these past months.
Riku carefully does not think of the odd dreams he sometimes has. Dreams where Sora – he watches as she keeps climbing higher. Because he's worried she might fall. No other reason.
Why is she even doing this?
...She can't actually want a paopu fruit. Right? Right. Picking a paopu fruit just isn't done unless you're planning on sharing it with the person you love. There's an unspoken rule to only do it if you're planning to get married.
Sora reaches the top of the tree and grabs one of the star shaped fruits.
Wha– when, who, how could Riku have missed something like this?
No, he couldn't have missed it, that's impossible. Sora is ridiculously naive when it comes to things like that, doesn't even realize half the boys in school are crushing on her. She wouldn't, would never, of course she wouldn't. Besides, she's been with him near constantly since summer began, he would've noticed if–
...She's always happy when Wakka is around. But that doesn't mean anything, Sora is happy around everyone. It doesn't–
Sora huffs with annoyance as the fruits remains attached to the tree and narrows her eyes in a way that always means trouble. Riku quickly calls out a warning.
"Sora, don–" Too late, she tightens her hold on the fruit and yanks. And loses her grip on the trunk, is screaming and falling down and his heart is stuck in his throat and he rushed under her and spreads his arms to catch her, bracing himself – Sora crashes down on top of him, all the air knocked out of his lungs as they hit the sand and making him closes his eyes on instinct. That's going to bruise.
Refocusing on far more important things, Riku opens his eyes and looks Sora over as best as he can in this position. She doesn't look hurt. The opposite, she's grinning widely and triumphantly holding up the paopu fruit.
"Got it!" she exclaims, not showing a single sign of understanding that she could've fallen to her death!
"You idiot!" he yells and barely resists the urge to literally shake some sense into her. Sora can be so damn careless! "You could've died!"
Of course his words just make the crazy, careless, reckless girl laugh.
"Don't be silly, I knew you'd catch me," she says like it's the most obvious thing in the world. Riku closes his eyes again as he lets his head drop down the sand, completely exasperated with her. And with himself.
Seriously, how is he supposed to stay mad at her when she goes and says things like that?
"It was still reckless, Sora," he says more calmly, his eyes still closed.
"No it wasn't. Like I said, I knew you'd catch me," she says in the same way she'd say the sky is blue. Riku feels an involuntary smile grow. Which will only ensure that Sora won't change her reckless behavior, yet he can't help it. She's right after all.
"I hope my bruises are worth it," he halfheartedly admonishes as he accepts the inevitable. Sora will always act recklessly and he will always protect her when she does. It's just the way the world works.
"Very worth it," she assures him in a solemn voice. Riku opens his eyes and sees her own dancing with laughter as she grins down at him.
"Why do you even want a paopu fruit?" he demands, his previous suspicion returning. Along with... well, jealousy. A lot of jealousy. He knows Sora wouldn't abandon him of course, but who's trying to take her away from him?
"Well I was thinking, we're going to other worlds, right?" she asks rhetorically, but it does make him realize that he's being an idiot. They're planning to go a journey. Obviously there's no one else in her life. There's no room for anyone but them. "Who knows what we'll find. We might even get separated."
The words startle him and he opens his mouth to deny that ridiculous statement but Sora keeps talking before he can.
"If we share a paopu fruit, we won't have to worry about that. Because no matter what happens, we'll always find our way back to each other."
Riku stares, completely caught off guard. Then he closes his eyes and laughs loudly, can't help it.
Crazy, reckless, wonderful girl.
Riku should've guessed, he really should have. This is just so typical Sora.
When his laughter dies down, he opens his eyes to find Sora smiling down with amusement. She's enjoying his reaction, but she's also confused by it. Of course she is. Riku gives in to the urge to tuck a few strands of her hair behind her ear.
"You do realize it's forever, right? If we do this, our destinies will entwined for the rest of our lives. No matter what." He doesn't know why he's saying this, it's just a story, just a myth. She knows that and so does he. So does everyone.
Doesn't change the fact that sharing a paopu fruit is considered the ultimate sign of commitment in a relationship. More specifically, in a romantic relationship.
"Well yes, that's why I want to share one," Sora says in a way that tells him she doesn't understand why she has to spell this out for him. "Besides, you're my best friend. Of course I want to be with you forever," she finishes like it's the most obvious thing in the world. Riku's smile grows.
So naive. It doesn't even occur to her how that could be interpreted. To Sora, this is just the way things are and that's that. She doesn't doubt how she feels in any way. She never does. Sometimes Riku envies that.
Right now it just fills him with overwhelming affection for this crazy girl.
"All right, let's do this."
His agreement makes Sora shine brighter than the stars.
"Riku, you're the best," she tells him, and it makes warmth rise as always. He knows she truly means that. And when she says it, it's impossible not to believe her.
Of course, even without Sora being the one to say it, it isn't difficult to believe.
"Of course I am," he brags with a smirk. Why be humble when you can flaunt it instead?
Sora chuckles and gets off him. Riku definitely doesn't feel a sense of loss. That would just be ridiculous.
As Sora gets comfortable next to him, he pushes himself into a sitting position as well. Sora is giving the paopu fruit held in her hands an intense look.
"So we just split it into two, right? I mean, we don't have to do a ritual or something. Do we?"
Riku chuckles and plucks the fruit out of her hands.
"No, we don't have to do a ritual. We just have to share it." Well, he's pretty sure there isn't a ritual. He's never heard of one at least.
"Great! You split it," she orders with an expectant smile.
"Why do I have to split it? You're the one who wants to share it," he teases.
"And you agreed. Besides, you're the one who took it from me," she counters playfully. Riku lets out a falsely resigned sigh.
"If you insist." He looks down at the star shaped fruit and takes a moment to decide how to go about doing this. He doesn't have a knife on him and he doesn't feel like going to tje storage cave to get one. Hands it is.
Riku shifts his grip on the fruit and begins to carefully tear it apart. He's immediately glad for his waterproof gloves when sticky juice starts dripping down.
Sora doesn't say anything, just keeps watching with excitement as he continues to split the fruit. Riku takes his time, making sure that each half is the same size. While there isn't a ritual, it is important to ensure that the paopu fruit is split equally. According to the legends at least.
The legends that aren't true. They're just stories. Of course they are.
When he finishes splitting the fruit in two, he holds out half towards Sora with a flourish.
"One split paopu fruit, as ordered."
Sora gives him a delighted smile, making him feel as though he's done something extraordinary instead of simply splitting a fruit in half.
"Why thank you, kind sir," she quips and takes hold of her half with such childish excitement. Honestly, it's just a story.
"Ready?" she asks as she brings up the paopu fruit. Riku mirrors her movement and ignores the way is heart is starting to race. It's just a story, a myth, a silly superstition. It doesn't mean anything.
Except Sora wants to share one with him.
"Ready," he confirms with a grin. Both of them take a large bite.
Riku chokes and almost doesn't manage to resist the overwhelming desire to spit the horrifying thing back out. It's only a lifetime of knowing that spitting out a paopu fruit simply isn't done that prevents him from doing just that.
He chews as quickly as possible, forces himself to swallow, and shivers violently as the act of swallowing the revolting thing down somehow manages to make the whole ordeal even worse.
That's the most disgusting thing he has ever tasted.
Riku looks at Sora just in time to see her swallow down her bite as well. She does so with an expression of utter revulsion, her skin sickly pale, and she gags immediately afterwards, shivering just as violently as he did.
"That's disgusting."
"So unbelievably disgusting," he immediately agrees. Even now that the worst has passed, his mouth still tastes like... like moldy old socks left to soak in rotten fish. Except Riku is pretty sure those socks wouldn't taste nearly as revolting as this.
Sora gags again. Riku understands completely. It's only with the greatest of effort that he doesn't do the same. He can't stop another violent shiver though.
Disgusting.
Sora gags once again, before she lifts her gaze to meet his own. The moment their eyes meet, she bursts into hysterical laughter and Riku has to join in, can't contain it because holy crap, this is unreal.
Who'd ever expect a paopu fruit to taste worse than shit?
Both of them keep laughing like loons for what feels like forever. Riku feels his ribs start to hurt from the force of it, tears rising from the sheer hilarity of this whole situation. Every time he feels like he's starting to get his laughter back under control, he looks at Sora and both of them lose it all over again.
Eventually their laughter does die down, more from being out of breath than anything else. Riku brings up a hand to wipe away the hysterical tears he hadn't managed to prevent from falling. When he looks back at Sora, he sees that she's doing the same. The sight almost makes him burst out laughing again, still unable to believe that a paopu fruit would taste this unbelievably revolting.
Sora lifts her head with a wild grin, the setting sun setting her hair ablaze and her eyes deeper than the ocean itself.
She's beautiful.
"Guess now we know why nobody ever answers the question of what they taste like," she quips and Riku can't help but laugh again. Sora joins in like she can't help herself either.
She's right, this more than explains why people who've shared a paopu fruit never say what it tastes like. And why they always smile like they have a hilarious secret when asked.
Riku laughs even harder as he recalls an important detail of the legends surrounding the paopu fruit.
"Sora, you do realize–" His laughter prevents him from continuing, but with an enormous effort, he manages to contain it enough to find his voice again. This needs to be said. "Realize that for this to work, we'll have to eat the entire thing."
Sora's laughter cuts off abruptly and she stares at him with pure and utter horror. It makes him cackle, his eyes closing as more tears slip free and his cheeks hurt but he doesn't care, can't stop laughing.
"This is going to take so long if we don't want to vomit it all back up."
Sora's horrified statement somehow manages to make him laugh even harder. Riku hears her join in again, her laughter as helpless as his own.
Everything about this is ridiculous.
Riku is so happy that he's sharing this moment with Sora.
He wants to keep sharing these moments with her forever.