Smile Through the Tears
A/N: First Draft, written by ChickenBob. I'm trying a different style of writing for me. I hope you like it.
A/N: 4/16 – EDIT -- I think I got all those pesky errors out.
Chapter One- Reunion, Departure, Reunion
"Oh, look! A shooting star!" The little girl tugs at her brother's sleeve.
The boy looks up from his fishing net, just missing the flash of light. Chuckling, he says, "You know, it's most likely a comet. Stars aren't solid objects, sis…"
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They watch the vessel disappear from view, while stand on the shore. A late-evening tide laps at their feet, and the sky is dark and heavy above them.
One, the brunette, speaks first. "What now?"
"I guess… we go home now." The oldest boy says this flatly, as if such an event were common-place for them.
The girl's face is lit with a smile, and she is the first to dart to the small dock. The two boys follow, laughing, so glad to be home.
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The companions reach her house first. The lights are on, and she is glad that she would be welcomed home immediately.
The oldest turns to her with his aqua eyes sparkling. He embraces her. "I'll see you tomorrow, then."
She laughs as they separate, wiping a tear from her eye. "That sounds so stupid." The boy smiles, and makes way for the brunette to say his farewell.
He approaches her, cautiously, almost sheepishly. They stand there for a few moments, not meeting each others' eyes. Finally he looks up from his feet, and instantly grins. She is beautiful in the dim light from the house.
She had been worth it.
He reaches out, taking her hand in his.
"I'll see you tomorrow," she says, blushing.
He nods. "Kairi, you promise?"
She steps back, releasing her hand from his grip.
"I promise."
She slips inside the house, leaving him in the dark of night.
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The two boys walk down a street dimly illuminated by the moon. They are silent in contentment. Home was still home, and no matter how far they traveled they always remember the way to their loved ones.
When they reach Riku's house, they turn to one another, realizing that their journey was truly over. They both are surprised that they are saddened by the thought.
"This is good!" Riku says, clapping the other on the shoulder. "This is where we're supposed to be."
The other one smiles, but says nothing.
Riku continues to grin, and quickly disappears into his house.
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The remaining boy reaches his home. He sees a dim light coming from the far back of the house, so he knows his parents are still awake. Before reaching for the spare key under the door mat, he closes his eyes, picturing their faces. How much can they change in two years?
He opens the door, and enters into the living room. It is exactly the same, except for a lot neater than he remembers it ever being before. His heart begins to beat faster. This is it, he thinks to himself. I am home.
His parents stumble into the living room from the back of the house, their eyes narrowed by sleep.
"Who's there?" The mother questions her son.
"Mom, Dad," he begins, knowing that they remember him, it's the sleep that's causing them difficulty. "It's me."
The couple quickly rub the tiredness from their eyes, startled at the voice, the familiar voice. And then they see him.
"Son…" The dad runs around the couch, and embraces the boy, sobbing. The mother follows, reaching her child and then collapsing into a tired, relieved, joyful, crying heap. The boy feels a few tears sting his eyes, but he's smiling.
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He is surprised that they don't ask him where he was, but he is grateful. How could he explain where he had been, what he had done? He had been worried, but it had passed, and now all that he felt was elation. He lies in bed, and stares at the familiar view out his bedroom window, content.
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The couple lay in bed, tired but happy after the reunion. Their boy was back, their child, the one that they had missed so much. It was right.
But one thing was wrong.
They stare at the ceiling, both knowing what was wrong but not knowing what to say.
The mother turns to the father, silent tears pouring from her eyes.
"I- I don't remember-" She begins to sob, softly so their child won't hear.
The father begins to cry as well, embracing his wife.
"I don't remember either," he manages to speak before his voice is engulfed in sadness as well.
They lay there for a while, angry at themselves, with the same thought running through their minds. How could we forget our son's name?