Sora chanced a glance up at Riku, who was sitting on the paopu tree above him. Riku was staring out into the sunset. Sora knew he was upset when he saw Riku's fists curled against the tree trunk. "Are you okay, Riku?"
Riku looked down at him, shrugged, and looked back out to sea. "I'm fine."
"Bullshit," Sora muttered. "What's bothering you?"
"Nothing, Sora. I don't want to talk about it."
Sora frowned and looked at the ground uncertainly, crossing his arms. "Is it your mom…?" he asked quietly. When he heard Riku sigh above him he knew he'd guessed right. Riku's mother had been diagnosed with lung cancer while they were away. As soon as Sora and Riku had arrived home nearly a month ago Riku had been told the news and ever since then, Riku had been angry and had become very withdrawn. Sora and Kairi began to suspect that Riku was taking his emotions out on himself, because they never saw him without wristbands or arm warmers. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"Not really,"
"Are you su-"
"Drop it, Sora."
Sora looked up at Riku in surprise. He sighed and looked away again, staring at his sandaled feet. Riku hopped off the paopu tree moments later and walked back across the bridge. Sora didn't follow him.
Thud.
Sora's head whipped around. What the… Riku slammed his fist into the seaside shack again – "Riku!" – and Sora hurried over to where Riku was. He punched the wall again – "What the hell are you doing?" – and Sora grabbed Riku's arm before he could break his hand.
Riku didn't resist when Sora made him turn around. His hands remained clenched at his sides, one of them dripping blood. Sora caught sight of tears slowly dripping from Riku's closed eyes as he hung his head, and he felt the other boy trembling when he held onto his shoulders. "Talk to me, Riku." Riku shook his head and stifled a choked sob. "Please," Sora squeezed Riku's shoulders.
A shaky sigh. "She's d-ying, Sor-a." Riku swiped at the tears on his face. "I've been gone all this t-ime, she's been sick for eight m-onths, and sh-e doesn't have much time l-eft." Riku managed another shaky sigh before he choked on another sob and sank to the ground.
Sora opened his mouth as he knelt next to his best friend, but decided against speaking. Instead, he brushed the tears away and pulled Riku into a tight hug. Riku hid his face in Sora's chest and Sora smoothed his hands over Riku's back. He swallowed the lump in his throat and whispered, "I'm so, so sorry, Riku." Then he laid his chin over Riku's head and rocked his sobbing friend in a desperate attempt to comfort him.