Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts.
Warning: This isn't really romantic. Actually, it's not romantic at all unless you squint. Sorry Soriku fans, this is pretty much just a friendship!fic.
Other: I originally wrote this as a oneshot, but to make things even I added a second chapter. No Kairi because I think that the islands are rather limited in birds, plus it would detract from the overall effect if I had two comparisons or two birds in each of these. So Kairi's not mentioned, but that doesn't mean I hate her! ;.; Just that I couldn't fit her in. Also, both of these are exactly 300 words each, not counting title or notes (go me and my OCD that descended upon the symmetry in these! XD) Oh, and this is after CoM but before KH2.
Nightingale
Riku stared at the strange birds, remembering the sounds he had heard the night before. "DiZ, are they the ones who sang last night?" When the older man looked at him, he pointed to the brown birds. They didn't look like much, really, so he was a little surprised when the red-robed man nodded.
"Yes, Riku, those are nightingales. You've never seen them before?" DiZ's tone was curious and sad and reminiscent all at once, and Riku wondered if he'd brought up sad memories by asking.
Still, he shook his head and went on. "No, never. We didn't have them on the Islands, and the few times I wasn't stuck in Maleficent's castle, I was too busy to notice the local wildlife." Not that there were a great many places that would have housed these nightingales, he reasoned.
DiZ nodded carefully, coming to stand beside Riku at the window. "Hm, yes. They are quite marvelous creatures. Beautiful voices, but they don't look the part, do they?" Riku had to shake his head, and DiZ laughed a bit. "Yes...quite like your friend Sora, I believe."
All of Riku's ease — and slight flecks of what might pass for happiness to a Nobody — drained out of his body with that comment, and he nodded stiffly. "I guess." He quickly left, DiZ staring after him sadly.
In his room, Riku could still see the nightingales, frolicking in the branches near his window. One went so far as to hop onto his sill, whistling at him and tilting its head a bit. Smiling softly, Riku stepped over to it, reaching out a hand to touch it.
A second later, he was nursing a sore finger and glaring fondly at that nightingale, who was giving him the distinct impression of glaring back. 'Yep, definitely like Sora.'