Shattering Hearts

It's been two months since Sora and Riku came home from the Dark Beach. At first everything was normal for the teens, but is wasn't long before Riku felt something moving in the darkness. It was faint but it was moving, almost like a parasite.

Riku was leaning against the paopu tree, his eyes not focusing on anything as he stared out at the ocean. His thoughts were back to his time of travels. When he betrayed Sora, helping Maleficent, letting the darkness take him. Even if no one besides the three of them knew about the darkness that he let destroy the island, it was still his greatest regret.

He shook his head he just needed to let those thoughts go, they weren't going to help anyone. Yet he could feel something stirring. Something in the darkness was coming. And whatever he was feeling it was very dark.

"Hey Riku!"

Farther down the beach was Sora running to him. Riku smiled, he hardly smiled for anyone besides Sora. Well, sometimes Kairi.

"Hey Sora, did you finally get caught up with all your school work?" Riku asked as Sora got closer.

The two of them had worked tirelessly on catching up with their schooling so they would advance to the next grade. Sora nodded as he hoisted himself onto the tree.

"Yup, it's all finally done. You would think that they would go easy on us for saving all the worlds while we were away."

Riku glanced up at the spiky brunet.

"You know they don't remember anything about the darkness and the Heartless Sora. All they know is that we suddenly left without tell anyone. Remember when you and Kairi tried to talk to Selphie about the other worlds and the Heartless? She thought you two were just making things up."

"I know Riku. It is nice though, being back home." Sora said glancing at Riku. "To finally relax and not running from world to world fighting all sorts of Heartless. Back with everyone and messing around, we are finally able to act like normal teenagers."

Riku gave a stiff nod. Sora must have not felt whatever was in the darkness. That bothered him. Something in the darkness was moving and growing and only he was feeling it. He was sure he had control over his darkness. Of course there were times when he got upset or stressed he could feel it spike. But he was quick to squash it down and put it back in check. If this continued he would have to go to the King.

Sora stretched out completely laying back against the tree.

"I still can't believe all the homework we missed. I mean how can they think that we would be able to get all that done in such little time."

Riku shrugged.

"I didn't think it was that bad, but I didn't wait to do it all at the last possible second like someone else I know."

"Hey we still have two days left before we go back!" Sora retorted jumping down from the tree. "I could have waited till the day before!"

Riku chuckled and ruffled Sora's hair. A small spark of light made Riku pull back his hand. The light had hurt him, there was even a burn on his hand. Sora's light had never hurt him before. How could it? Sora was his light!

"Riku? Are...are you okay?" Sora asked, tilting his head.

He must have not felt or seen the light. Riku nodded, this wasn't a good sign.

"Yeah I'm fine...I gotta head home. Mom and dad are still a bit clingy since the whole adventure thing. See ya Sora!"

Two months went past and no other incidences occurred. School had started and it seemed that life was going to be normal for the teens.

The class Riku was currently in, Calculus, was boring him to death. If he had the choice he would still like to be exploring the worlds than be here. Here was boring at least in the other worlds he could see new things, just like he wanted to when he was a kid. The teacher's voice slowly faded away from the forefront of Riku's mind. He didn't want to be here anymore, he wanted to leave. Go and see King Mickey and some of the people of the other worlds that didn't hate him.

"Leave."

Riku whipped his head around, no one was paying attention to him. No one ever talk to him in this class so he didn't think they would suddenly start now. He relaxed, must have been his imagination playing tricks on him. He ran his hand through his hair he was just stressed from going back to school. Maybe he should have taken more time off like his dad suggested. Maybe itwasto early to be back in the swing of things. He didn't have much more time to dwell on the fact as the bell rang. He shoved his books into his bag and headed out of the classroom before a majority of the class.

The feeling he had felt before had gotten worse. Whatever this darkness was it was growing.