a/n: she's back? kinda. maybe. not for long :P FOR NOELLE. I LOVE YOU DARLING. DON'T HATE ME, BECAUSE I CAN'T DO REQUEST FICS RIGHT! D: ariel x riku is damn sexy.

disclaimer: don't even.

She's swimming circles around him, her red hair swirling behind her - he laughs, sucking in as much water in as he can. Oh, how he loves the sea. He can't understand why she wants to know about the world up there, when she could be down here, in this magical, magical place.

"Tell me all about the world up there?" she asks, blue eyes filling with innocent curiosity, and he shakes his head. Crossing her arms, and narrowing her eyes, she gives him a look that always makes his heart beat a little bit faster. She takes off, up and away, trying to find out on her own, but she doesn't know how dangerous it is - not when she gets like this. He wishes that he can tie an anchor to her, but he catches up with her eventually.

Only mere minutes away from the surface.

He lures her back with tales of the island he calls home, not daring to tell her about the dark truths and the horrible things that happen - death; destruction; little heartless stealing hearts. How can he tell her that her hero isn't always there to save the day? And even now he's just avoiding reality by being here with her. She will never look at him the same if he tells her. Guilt swims through him - it's the only way, he convinces himself.

- - -

"Tell me about the world down there!" Kairi squeals when he comes back, soaked with salt water. He clenches his teeth, holding back the truth. He spells out his adventures with alluring words, and she watches him eyes wide as saucers, holding onto every word. He can't tell her that when he sees her violet eyes, in the right light, they shine so blue - nor can he say how he wishes her hair is just a little redder. He wants to share his world with her, but he wants to save her from it, too. He can't tell Kairi that he wants to go down under to see Ariel again. It will just break her heart.

"Riku!" Sora bellows as loudly as he can. They both turn, looking at the fear in his eyes. "Something washed up on the island!" He begins to run back to it, whatever it is.

Riku sees the worry in Kairi's eyes.

"Maybe it's another you," he jokes. She smiles back at him, reassured, but inside something in him turns. Something isn't right. They chases Sora, and he has a flash. Every time he had been there, just in time to keep her from going up. But what if, just once - once - curiosity had gotten the better of her.

He smells the blood before he sees her. He can't hear anything - they're talking, words, meaningless words. Kairi screams. She's mangled, but it's her, not Kairi. Red locks, green tail fin.

Blue eyes never to gleam again.

"What is it-?"

"A mermaid-?"

"Riku?"

"Riku?"

Riku, she runs a hand through his hair, take me back with you.

He kisses the top of her head, smiling. He wants to. He really does. Next time.

There won't be a next time. She's gone. He stares at the hole in her chest, her heart removed. Gone. He can't protect her even if he wants to - it's too late. He wishes that he didn't tell her those stories, that he hadn't filled her with everything good and bad. Maybe then she would have been afraid. Maybe her curiosity wouldn't have gotten the better of her. Tears fall down his face. If only…

If only he had broken her heart, while she still had one to break.